12/04/2018
Why is weight loss and weight maintenance so hard? How many diets and fresh starts does it take? How much do you really believe the diet industry that dieting works? Well may be aren't telling the whole story.
It’s all about hormones - and neurotransmitters.
Knowledge and understanding are 2 of the most important ingredients when we’re talking about change. If you are one of the many that has weight or health issues then an increased knowledge regarding how the body functions is the logical place to start.
Article from https://sally-walker.com/index.php/en/
Hormones and neurotransmitters are the body’s software, and the body’s function and form is the result of the messages it receives from its software.
How your body looks and functions is a direct result of the hormones and neurotransmitters at work.
The body has among others, hormones and neuro transmitters that store fat, breakdown the body’s own protein (muscle tissue etc.), increase your need for sugar and programs for the opposite. i.e. processes that burn fat, build proteins, etc. So while the body is being controlled by fat storing processes, it is biochemically impossible to burn it.
Each of the different processes contain different hormones.
CATABOLIC process: the body uses hormones to breakdown molecules into smaller parts to release energy. Some of these are:
Cortisol (long-term anti-stress hormone) – breaks down protein
Glucagon (complex sugar chain) – breaks down liver glycogen
Adrenalin (short-term anti-stress hormone) – assists in glucose and fat
burning (by increasing their release)
All of the above are involved in creating extra energy when required – eg in stressful situations
ANABOLIC process: hormones that build molecules from the smaller parts. Some of these include:
Insulin – stores glucose, fat and amino acids in cells
Human Growth Hormone – increases muscle and bone formation
(but increases fat burning)
DHEA – increases bone formation
Testosterone – increases muscle building
Estrogen – increases fat storage
Progesterone – increases elastin formation (connective tissue)
All the above are involved in the storage and building of nutrients, such as fat, sugar and amino acids.
The sum of catabolism and anabolism is called METABOLISM i.e. how much the body builds and breaks down. The hormones produced by the thyroid gland control the speed of metabolism, “metabolic rate”. As long as there is a balance in how much we breakdown and how much we build there is optimal physical, mental and emotional health.
From the hand of nature the day is divided into times where the body is programmed to either breakdown or build. When these times are not respected and we breakdown when we should be building imbalances may be created with increased risk of sickness and excess weight a close follower.
Optimal health and a beautiful body are only possible when we respect the fact that we are a product of our hormones and live by theirs and nature’s rules.
Energy production is the key, though it’s not as simple as calories in and calories out. An increased need for energy is registered by the body as a stress. The body has to do more than normal – how do you feel when you have to do more than normal? The need for extra energy turns on the anti-stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which create the extra energy.
Short-term increased production of anti-stress hormones is healthy – they make sure you get it done. But long-term increased production of anti-stress hormones, regardless why, is destructive for the body and turns on your “survival package”, which among other things contains the fat storing programs, breakdown proteins and increase your need for sugar and other stimulants. The level of anti-stress and survival hormone cortisol, decides if we are catabolic or anabolic.
The work to be done is not simple for sure but realising that YOU have more control over your body's processes via the way you behave, think, feel, eat, rest and move. The hormones are just doing their job! Find the areas in your lifestyle that increase your need for energy – if you need help you can take the Goodlife Test on my website www.sally-walker.com (select the "British flag" in the top left of the home page for the English translation) or contact me directly.
