I cannot lose weight – HELP!

This month is almost ending! I noticed that I seriously neglected my blog articles. I didn’t waste my time; I was very busy with something new. For past month I worked on a new online program that was taking most of my time. All is going really well! The most important, the participants love the recipes I am recommending in the program. The participants are challenging themselves by avoiding sugar, gluten, dairy, coffee and alcohol. Yes, it can be tough but the program is designed to release the toxins from the body after a long winter and not always eating ‘super foods’.

As we are approaching summer, many of us are thinking about own body shape, how we will look in shorts and summer dresses walking down the beach or attending events. Some of you, over these few months worked out hard with almost no results. You started to think that you have a very stubborn fat and you almost want to give up on having a lean body. You even think to go for a junk meal and ice cream to boost yourself up. I am telling you, don’t do it as this would be the worst thing for you!

Rather find out if you are making some of these mistakes.

1. Toxins keep the body fat

Toxins harm our health, but also prevent us from losing fat. Yes, it’s almost impossible to avoid them completely. Toxins are in form of pesticides in non-organic teas and coffee, BPA in the lining of canned foods and plastic bottles, pollution in the air, water we drink, household cleaners and even personal care products like soaps, shampoos and cosmetics.

Science has found a link between toxins and the storage of stubborn body fat. It was observed that the body tends to store additional fat in attempt to protect the organs from further toxicity.

You may ask, what should I do then?

In order to lose fat, it’s important to release these toxins by eating whole, real and organic foods. 

• Every morning drink water with freshly squeezed lemon. This is my first recommendation to all my clients. Lemon is high in vitamin C which helps synthesize toxic materials in water soluble and eliminate through urine.
• Drink lots of filtered water all day long.
• In the morning and evening drink herbals teas like dandelion or milk thistle tea, great for the liver.
• Eat frequently foods packed with fiber such as chia and nuts, fresh apples that are rich in pectin, and vegetables like broccoli, beets, watercress and also seaweed.
• Eat lots of garlic. Garlic is known to boost liver enzymes which help in cleansing the body from toxins as this organ pays a major effect on detoxification in the body. If you are concerned about the breath just know that cooking eliminate most of the odour.

 2. Do not eat these “healthy” foods

Many people eat foods that they think are healthy. Are they, really?

One of them are breakfast cereals marketed with labels like “All Natural,” but are typically nothing more than heavily processed junk food that contains GMO ingredients or high fructose syrup. Pre-made smoothies can also be confusing. Smoothies may look healthy, but they usually contain about 500 nasty calories due to a large quantity of simple sugars and syrups.

These foods can help you burn fat:

• Grass-fed meats are high in the healthy metabolism-boosting fat such as CLA.
• Capsaicin, the compound in chili pepper, is known to heat up the body and raises the metabolism. I use chili peppers for grilled chicken, fishes, omelet and whenever I can.
• Herbs and spices like ginger, turmeric and cardamom, also tend to help increase the fat burn.
• Healthy fats in moderate portions, including coconut oil, raw nuts and seeds are great fat-burning foods.

3. These exercises may cause a problem for you

For years many of us heard that long cardio sessions are best for weight loss. Well, not really! Recent studies published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, have found the opposite to be true. Jogging for miles or pounding away at the treadmill is not only ineffective, it can be harmful. The excess of cardio activity causes the body to suppress a thyroid hormone called T3 that gives the energy and contributes to burn fat. When T3 is suppressed, the body begins to gain and store fat.

Do this workout, instead

• Do quick 15-20 minute high intensity interval training (HIIT), which is not only better for your busy schedule, but it’s more effective than doing long boring cardio sessions. The most important HIIT will keep burning fat for hours after your workout.

Here is what you should do next to obtain the weight loss goal still for his summer

• Ask for a customized weight loss plan that I will be happy to develop for you.
• Share with me any challenges that are stopping you to obtain the body you want.
• Book a consultation with me to discuss your food challenges.

Please also forward this article to your friends, family or co-workers that would enjoy reading it.

And please remember, I am here to help you!

Maria Pawlicka, BAA, M.Sc., CNP

Certified and Registered Nutritionist