Feeling clueless on why you have gained weight and what you can do about it? Here is my advice on how to start a weight loss journey.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more details.
Losing weight is definitely doable, though admittedly not easy for everyone. There are so many reasons for weight gain. Figuring out what particular thing is causing you problems can be challenging. But not impossible!
I was a complicated case, but I was still able to lose weight and am now happy with my weight. This article is the advice I would give a friend if they wanted to know how to start a weight loss journey.
Let’s start with food because good food can help you lose weight faster than anything else.
Good Food First
The easiest place for most people to start is to start eating healthy food. And, I don’t mean low fat foods or tasteless foods! For most people simply switching over to more real foods will result in weight loss. I love to teach others how to eat healthier-here is a free healthy food list to get you started.
There are a some articles on my site that may also interest you. If you want to know what kinds of foods to include in your diet, read more about which clean eating foods help the most with weight loss. If you are wondering how much to eat of each food, learn more about what a healthy diet looks like.
What to Do Next if you Already Eat Clean
If you are already eating lots of healthy foods, and you are still struggling with weight loss, you may have an underlying issue going on like thyroid issues, hormone imbalances, or even liver issues. All of these things can also be worked on, but may require some doctor appointments and some detective work. Here are a few things to consider if you are struggling with weight loss.
Liver Issues
Excessive weight gain, sluggish metabolism, and an inability to lose weight even while dieting can all be signs of liver problems. Check out these symptoms of liver problems to see if you fit the profile. If you do have a lot of the symptoms, juicing or increasing your healthy salads could really help you to lose weight.
Thyroid or Adrenal Problems
Thyroid or adrenal problems can also prevent you from losing weight. Fatigue, dry skin and hair, and inability to lose weight are all signs of thyroid problems. See an infographic with more thyroid symptoms here. If you suspect a thyroid problem, you will need to learn about thyroid tests and find a practitioner who is willing to do all the testing and knows how to treat complex thyroid problems. Many doctors only do a few tests and only have a 1 or 2 treatments available. Learn more about thyroid testing here.
Adrenal problems can also cause problems with weight. The adrenals are very much connected to the thyroid. Sometimes you can fix your adrenals and don’t need to work on your thyroid. Other times fixing the adrenals will give you the best chance to heal your thyroid problems.
In other words, you might want to find out if your adrenals are causing you any problems. There are some natural minded doctors who can test for adrenal problems using saliva testing.
My Adrenal Story
I had many of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, and my doctor told me that I had low morning cortisol. This was from a blood test so I am unsure of the accuracy-some practitioners don’t feel that blood testing is very helpful for detecting adrenal problems. However I had A LOT of the symptoms, so I worked on healing my adrenals.
I worked on detoxing from heavy metals because I believe this was a problem for me and was putting stress on my adrenals. I also slept whenever I needed to, I didn’t exercise much, I ate nourishing meals with healthy fats (coconut oil) and protein, I ate regularly so that my blood sugar remained steady, and I took vitamin C and B vitamins. I prayed and basically did whatever I needed to to keep my stress level down.
I no longer have the adrenal problems that I used to have so I don’t have to be as careful now. Between detox, adrenal healing, and God’s help, I lost weight as well.
Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal problems can also keep you from being able to lose weight. Some of the symptoms of hormone imbalance are weight gain, anxiety, insomnia, thinning hair, blood sugar issues, PMS, and breast cysts. Learn more about how to balance your hormones in my post about balancing your hormones naturally.
If you have already worked on balancing your hormones naturally, you may need some more specific help. Some naturopathic or integrated doctors do hormone testing. Some of the best hormone testing is done with urine or saliva. A more naturally minded doctor can do this type of testing and prescribe bio identical hormones. These are not for everyone, but definitely help some people find hormone balance.
Many naturally minded doctors will also look for the reason why your hormones are off. It could be that you do have a problem with heavy metals, or that you have been chronically stressed for too long. Or it could be from taking birth control, or because you have an underlying infection. Or you may need lifestyle changes.
The good news is that if your hormones have been keeping you overweight, than balancing them can definitely help you to lose weight. It is a whole lot easier to lose weight with balanced hormones.
Get Some Support
Everything is easier with friends who get you and encourage you! Hanging around the right people (even if it is just on Facebook) can help you to stay motivated for the long haul. Whenever you need someone to talk to, the right friends can help. Whenever you need some help with food or exercise, they can give suggestions because they have been there too!
My sister is an excellent support person-and I don’t just think that because she is my sister. She is really encouraging and really has a heart to see others succeed in their weight loss goals. You can read more about her story on her Beachbody page. You can also find her on Facebook.
A Word of Encouragement
It took me a long time to track down the health information that helped me to be a healthy weight. I hope to spare you from that, and get you on the right track to begin with. Hopefully, this article will help to know where to start on your own personal weight loss journey.
If you believe in prayer like I do, I would start there. Then go with your gut-do you think you need support or encouragement? Then seek out a coach or mentor that can help you.
Do you feel you need more healthy foods in your life? Read more about healthy food swaps in this post.
Do you think something is not going right in your body and you really feel you cannot lose weight? Seek out a natural minded doctor who will run the appropriate tests and listen to your concerns.
As you think through the answers to the above questions, you will often have insight on where to start your weight loss journey.
I encourage you to trust your instincts. And I would love to hear of your successes or insights!
Disclaimer: This post is not medical advice. I am not a doctor or medical professional. I share only from my own experiences and research. Consult your own practitioner before making changes in your diet or supplements.
Leave a Reply