Do you struggle with weight loss? Have you tried every diet and the weight just doesn’t seem to come off? As we begin a new year, many people focus on shedding those extra pounds, especially the ones they managed gain over the holidays. Some studies show people pick up an extra 7 to 9 pounds during the holiday season, mainly because of increased social gatherings where rich foods are in abundance, as well as increased stress and less physical activity. This holiday weight gain becomes an important factor in obesity risk. Research done at the National Institutes of Health has found that most Americans don’t lose the weight they gain each year and, as the years go by, the scale goes up.

One of the reasons why people struggle with weight loss — even when they are decreasing the amount of total calories they consume — has to do with the toxins we consume on a daily basis. When people choose foods that are processed, filled with pesticides, antibiotics or hormones, they are consuming toxins. Ironically, some of the worst toxic-laden foods are those advertised as “only 100 calories.”

A study done by The Physicians for Social Responsibility found that Americans consume 14 pounds of toxic chemicals each year. These chemicals build up in our tissues and are stored in the fat cells where they can remain for years. What’s more, as we continue to consume these foods, the body will actually make new fat cells in order to continue storing the toxins. The creation of these new fat cells is actually the body’s defense mechanism to keep toxins from being circulated and protect major organs from being damaged. Unfortunately, this also causes us to pile on the pounds and puts us at risk for a variety of other health issues.

Another reason toxicity in the body makes it difficult to lose weight is because the toxins actually damage cells and impact metabolism by decreasing the efficiency of thyroid hormone utilization throughout the body. This can lead to a sluggish metabolism, making it easier to gain weight and more difficult to lose weight. These are the patients that come in to my office after trying many different diets with little success and great frustration. 

Over the years I have come to learn that just focusing on losing weight is not the answer. The real focus needs to be on getting healthy. The patients that have lasting success are the ones who want to improve their overall health, not just drop the needle on the scale.  When the goal is overall health, we can develop good habits that bring about lifestyle changes and life-long results.

A toxic body is an unhealthy body, and all of us have some degree of toxicity. Even though I try to eat healthy “real food,” I still choose to do a cleanse twice a year to ensure optimal health.  When helping patients achieve their weight loss goals, removing the toxins from the body is always the first step and goes a long way toward improving their overall health.

To determine the level of toxicity in your body, I encourage you to take a few minutes to fill out our free Toxicity Questionnaire.  Simply call our office at 706-454-2040 or email me at pathwaysth@gmail.com to request this important screening tool that can help you move past stubborn weight loss, and improve your health and wellness in the coming year.