The Missing Elements of Weight Loss
Factors Influencing Fitness That You Might Not Have Known
Oct 5, 2009
You woke up in the morning feeling a bit sluggish as usual. You have been exercising and eating sensibly for the past few months. To check you progress, you wrapped the measuring tape around your waist and to your disappointment; your waistline has not budge. What gives? Frustration sets in as you try to figure out where you went wrong with your fitness program.
This is a common predicament for people trying to shed more weight. While physical activity and healthy food choices are keys to weight loss, there are other lifestyle factors that could be hindering your progress.
Body pH Balance
Chemical components in the foods we ingest can affect every cell in our body and the overall pH (potential for Hydrogen) balance. To determine if something is acid or alkaline on a scale of 0-14, a neutral pH is 7 while zero to 6.8 is acidic and 7.4 above is alkaline. A healthy, normal functioning body should have a pH within range of 6.8 to 7.4, although ideally, it should be slightly towards alkaline.
Because fats are needed to protect the organs from acid wastes, the body creates more fat cells to store ‘survival fats’ that cling on to the organs to provide protection. Once the body is free of excess acid, the extra fats are no longer needed. Additionally, yeast and fungus also thrived in an acidic condition, causing problems in the digestive system. When the body cannot process and extract nutrients from food properly, it leaves one constantly feeling hungry. Hence, overeating and weight problems compound.
The majority of foods most people are used to consume have an acid forming effect on the body, even those with health benefits like dairy products, chicken, turkey and fruits. Therefore, to attain pH balance is to increase alkaline foods into one’s regular diet.
An easy way to is by having a alkaline salad including fresh raw avocados, tomatoes and green vegetables with lemons, limes and virgin olive oil for dressing as one of your meals everyday. In addition, squeezing a quarter to half a lemon’s juice into pure, filtered water and drink twice a day can aid in alkalizing and cleansing the body.
Toxic Elimination
One can be carrying up to 15 to 20 pounds of fecal matter if the body’s elimination system is not functioning properly!
Regular bowel movement is the natural way of eliminating wastes and toxins from the body. Symptoms of toxicity include fatigue, irritability, bloating and constipation. If left unattended, they can lead to more serious diseases in the long run.
Because modern life is full of harmful processed foods, artificial flavorings, chemicals, preservatives and manufactured medicine, a regular detoxifying regime can be of enormous help to the internals. Do note, however, that a ‘detox program’ is not a weight loss program. The goal of detoxifying is to rid the digestive and elimination track off toxins and restore its healthy function, which can contribute to weight loss.
Basically, regular intake of fiber and antioxidant rich foods such as majority of berries, nuts and seeds, along with drinking enough water can greatly contribute to a healthy digestive and elimination.
Health pioneer and founder of the Bragg food products label, Paul C. Bragg, recommended adding one tablespoon of Psyllium Husks powder and a tablespoon of raw honey into 16oz of water for drinking twice a week, one hour after dinner and two hours before bedtime for regular bowel movement.
There are also a wide range of detoxifying programs and bowel cleansing products in the market. In general, proper detox programs should include a diet of high-fiber foods, water, fruits and vegetables. Cleansing products should consist of natural herbal blends that work gently without harsh laxatives, as constant stimulation with laxatives can lead to bowel dependency. As always, consult a health-care professional before trying anything.
Oxygen
Proper deep breathing can increase metabolism and energy levels, which adds effectiveness to a workout session. Keeping the bloodstream oxygenated also reduce stress and decrease cortisol production (the stress hormone) that lead to fat storage.
Oxygen is also required by the intestines to help process and absorbed nutrients, aiding in digestion and flushing out toxins. According to research by the University of Edinburgh, the intestines ability can diminish by 75 percent with lack of oxygen.
To increased oxygen intake, make full use of the lungs’ capacity with nasal breathing. Inhaling and exhaling solely through the nose during exercise exertions can be a challenge, as most people are used to inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.
Disciplines that practice nasal breathing such as Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong are also worth considering.
Rest and Recovery
Stress produces adrenaline. Cortisol is a byproduct of adrenaline that sends signals to the body to replenish after a bout of stress; leading to food cravings to satisfy the body’s need for ‘fuel’ to handle another ‘fight or flight’ situation. This hormonal working ensures survival during the Stone Age, where stress comes in the form of physical danger but in today’s world, it creates the habitual ‘comfort eating’.
Fortunately, psychiatry experts noted that ‘comfort eating’ is a learned behavior encouraged by brain chemistry; meaning it is a habit that can be broken with conscious effort.
When the urge to eat arises, ask yourself if you are truly hungry or just feeling anxious. According to author of Fight Fat After Forty, Pamela Peeke, an effective way of dealing with cravings is to choose high-fiber healthy snacks over sugary, simple carbohydrates.
Overdoing your exercise and lack of sleep also increases stress and raise cortisol levels due to too much strain and delayed recovery of the muscles. So built in rest periods into your fitness routine and devote time to relaxation.
Find a suitable time everyday - 15 to 30 minutes will do - where you can shut out all thoughts and do something relaxing like lighting an aromatherapy candle, make a cup of tea or listen to music. At night, get adequate undisrupted sleep (7-8 hours).
Further reading:
List of Acidic and Alkaline Foods
