Writing articles on weight gain or loss is tricky because there are so many diets out there and fail-safe systems to ‘eliminate the weight forever.’ It is my opinion that many programs prey on those who are vulnerable and have lower self-esteem than when they were younger because they are packing extra pounds and don’t feel good about how they look. One of the reasons we have extra weight is stress, and hating our bodies causes plenty of stress. This article will focus on a few causes of weight gain and why we have trouble losing it.
However, I am not a doctor nor an expert in this area and it is important that the reader understand how complex this topic is. Also, the individual chemistry of every body is different when it comes to hormone levels, allergies and food sensitivities, mental health and stress levels, past trauma, hydration, metabolic rates, inherent diseases, harmful environmental exposure, toxin load, and genetic factors, just to name a few.
Weight gain is normal at any age, especially if we don’t have a healthy lifestyle involving proper nutrition, adequate exercise, hydration, a stress reduction practice and enough sleep. But for those of us who have hit that middle age of our lives, being overweight seems to be more common than not. And what we used to do to drop the pounds no longer works.
I cannot stress enough the importance of healthy nutrition and mindful eating but will also briefly discuss the role of hormones, addictions, stress and toxins when it comes to weight gain. The other reasons for inflammation and weight gain will be topics of further exploration.
Hormone changes and insulin resistance play a role, but so does a lifetime of eating foods that cause toxin build up and inflammation, as well as physical inactivity and apathy (which may be due to body pain caused by the inflammation). It is a vicious circle. If we don’t eliminate inflammatory foods, we are too sore to exercise adequately, and becoming inactive causes weight gain, which often leads to poorer self-image and comfort eating… and those extra pounds just seem to continue to creep on.
As a woman, I can attest that hormones and stress in my life were significant contributors to my gaining 20-30 lbs. But I was also afflicted by intense arthritis (due to eating too many nightshades), and started taking prednisone which is a common pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drug used to repress pain and other inflammatory conditions. Unfortunately, it also causes fluid retention and weight gain as a side effect.
Individuals who hit a certain (middle) age have changing hormones and may be forced to be less active due to body pain (inflammation) or busy lives. I know that at 58 years old I am busier than I have ever been (except when I was chasing my toddlers around). With my own hormonal changes (less estrogen) I have become more insulin resistant and if I consume too many simple carbs my pancreas will need to create more insulin (which causes weight gain) and may also become sluggish and prone to Type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is also a precursor to many other diseases and disorders including high blood pressure, increased risk of stroke and heart attack, nerve damage (neuropathy), blindness (retinopathy), obesity, etc. To conclude, one reason for weight gain is the increased insulin levels due to consumption of too many carbs, and hormonal insulin resistance.
Another reason for increased weight gain, is comfort or addictive eating. We often eat food when we are exposed to the inevitable stresses in life, as eating something sugary or high carb produces a general feeling of well-being. However, processed sugar is highly addictive and many foods even contain additives and chemicals to generate and increase addictions. Food manufacturers can be as immoral as cigarette manufacturers.
Stress hormones such as cortisol, as well as the toxins that we are exposed to (most often in our diets) are stored in fat. Without the fat, these toxins would run rampant throughout our bodies, causing all kinds of havoc. When we have a build up of toxins, our bodies resist letting go of fat for good reason. This is why de-stressing and detoxifying the body is so important.
Stress can be dealt with through counselling, support, mindfulness and techniques like yoga, meditation and exercise (just to name a few) while toxins can be eliminated through detoxification processes and anti-oxidant foods. We can support our body’s natural detox processes by getting plenty of sleep, eating a balanced diet rich in anti-oxidant foods, being properly hydrated, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and taking care of our gut health. There are many supplements and vitamins that also claim to help detox the body.
This is a very brief explanation of a complex issue, and any new diet or exercise regime should be approved by a health professional who understands and verifies the connection between healthy eating, hormones, addictions, stress, toxin overload and exercise.
Claire Nielsen is a health coach, author, public speaker and founder of www.elixirforlife.ca. The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional health and medical advice. Please consult a doctor, health-care provider or mental health practitioner if you're seeking medical advice, diagnoses and/or treatment.
