Weighing In on Weight Loss Pt 1

Whenever we discuss health and fitness, the subject of weight loss or achieving our ideal weight is always going to be a part of the conversation.

Weight is such a huge issue (no pun intended) that we have industries making billions of dollars out of people’s desperation to attain a thin physique.  Often the health aspect is disregarded, as the latest “quick fix” pill, powder or potion is touted as a cure all for the “disease” of being overweight.

If we do explore the health aspect though, we can start to see things from a different perspective.  More often than not, there is a causative factor that is contributing to the weight gain, and it’s not purely a lack of willpower.

I don’t believe we need to be fanatical about being stick thin either, but we do need to find that balance of energy and vitality that comes with having a fit, healthy body.  I’ve experienced both sides of the weight issue, and I can tell you that I prefer fit and healthy!

My weight problem started when I broke my leg (femur) at Tae Kwon Do training and was unable to exercise for six months.  Little did I know at the time, but the trauma and the following operation to pin the bone, shut down my adrenals and thyroid – I just thought I was having a hard time recovering, but it was much more than that.

Over that six months period I started to gain weight – and I went from my normally fit and toned 48kg (I am only 5ft tall if this seems light to you!) – up to about 62kg at my heaviest.  That might not sound like a lot, but it was a gain of 30% of my body weight and I felt terrible.  With that also came the fatigue, depression, thinning hair, brain fog, and feeling the cold that is part of a thyroid disorder.

With all my knowledge on health, once my leg was OK, I started exercising again (when I had the energy) and I made sure that my diet was perfect – but I could only lose about half of the weight.  The other half stubbornly stayed put.

It’s a long story but until my thyroid and adrenals were properly supported nothing made much of a difference to that extra bit of weight.  I know, it’s not like I was obese and had 50 more kilos to lose – but I’m just illustrating that even the best diet and exercise will not do the trick if there is a metabolic or hormonal disorder underneath.

Once I had the correct treatment, that last 7kg dropped off in a few weeks and I was able to feel human again -the thyroid symptoms all reversed and I could sustain my previous levels of exercise, which I had found exhausting up until then.

Stay tuned because tomorrow I will discuss some of the problems that can cause weight gain, and what simple things you can do about it.

Leisa