Overcoming 3 Obstacles to Weight Loss

A Quick Look at 3 Obstacles to Weight Loss

Losing stubborn fat can be frustrating but when you understand the obstacles you are up against it will become easier. In fact, you may finally lose the weight that you have been trying to lose for years. Obstacles are within and without but they can be overcome.

No one sets out on a journey without counting the cost and assessing the obstacles. The first obstacle is always ourselves. You must be very honest with yourself as to your own desire to improve. Do not let previous failure to change deter you now. Many people have to try and try again when changing embedded habits. It can be done. You need a plan, desire, and someone to help you. I can give you the plan and be the someone to help you. You just need to bring the desire to change and improve even if you have doubts as to whether you can follow-through. That's where I come in; let me help you.

The second obstacle is everyone else. I'm not kidding. Others may not like the changes you are beginning to make because it casts doubt on their own choices or they are jealous of your transformation or because they just miss you as their partner in destructive behaviors. We will talk about each of these possibilities and more but just know that other people may make negative comments to you or bring you gooey desserts or insist you have another serving of something they prepared. All of this is manageable. Just be forewarned.

A third obstacle has been thrust on us by our environment and the choices of other people. That obstacle is the toxins that are in our food,water, air, our cleaning products and even our personal care products like shampoo and lotion. Toxins collect in our organs,bones,muscles,and especially in our fat cells. There are close to 100,000 chemicals in production and many of them find their way into our bodies via the food we eat,the air we breath, the water we drink, the medicines we take and the products we use.

One time I was on a week long bike ride and I was eating out of farmer's markets feasting on fruits, vegetables, and salmon. At the end of the week, defying all logic and mathematical calculations of calories in and out; I found that I had actually gained some weight. When I saw my doctor and told her this she said that that just confirmed what she had discovered from my blood work. She was convinced that my liver was toxic possibly from air pollution I experienced while riding. She said that when the liver is holding toxins that it will manifest as a roll of fat on the upper abs. She put me on a detox program that she said would take six months to a year to fully work. This was in contrast to what you might hear from a quick fix infomercial.

When these chemicals find their way into our bodies they can remain there for years causing undetected damage including lowering our resistance to chronic diseases. Studies show that most of us have between 400 and 800 chemical residues stored in the fat cells of our bodies which make up our total toxic burden. Many people eventually reach a level of toxicity that surpasses the point that their body's own natural detoxification system can handle.



Chemicals and toxins can build up in your system and cause problems regardless of your body weight but when body fat begins to accumulate, that usually means toxins are accumulating, too. The body retains fats as a way to protect the vital organs in the body from the toxins that we are exposed to. Body fat accumulation, especially around the mid section, is a visible sign of toxic build up and a good indication that the liver is not functioning as efficiently as it should. My physician explained that the body will create extra fat to protect our organs from being poisoned by the toxins in our system.

While I was cycling for hours day after day and ingesting fewer calories than I was burning the natural result should have been for me to shed body fat. But our bodies have protective mechanisms that will not allow this to happen if the level of toxins could harm us if released into our blood streams. No amount of exercise or careful eating was going to work for me until I reduced my toxic load. You may need to consider this as a piece to your own weight loss puzzle.

3 Action Steps to Overcome These Obstacles

Keeping the goal in sight is the best strategy to keep from quitting when you hit obstacles within or without. I need you to take a moment and get in a relaxed quiet place where you can think about how you want to look,how you want you and your family to feel, and what kind of lifestyle you are hoping to create in terms of meals,family activities,fitness and health. Get as clear a picture as you can, imagining it in great detail. Relax into the picture until you feel confident that this is what you want and this is what you are willing to work towards. This is a right brain activity.

A personal trainer can help you with the how of fat loss by designing a program that fits your abilities, time constraints, and other limitations. They'll try to make your sessions as enjoyable as possible. But one of the keys to success must come from you. It involves finding your reason for losing fat and getting in shape. It has to do with knowing exactly what you expect will be better in your life once you lose the weight.

Truthfulness is essential with this step. It is after all a private matter. You don't have to tell anyone. If you want to be able to wear a certain style, play with your kids or grandkids, get noticed by someone, or any other goal that means something to you then nurture that desire by remembering it when you are facing difficult choices or temptations. Link your desires with the actions it takes to make those desires a reality.

Right now take just a minute to take some deep breaths and talk to yourself about your goals and what you know it will take to reach them. As you relax and breathe let the picture of what you are hoping for form clearly in your mind. Sense yourself relaxing as you inwardly confirm the validity of this goal. That's it. You have your compelling reason.

One of my clients realized that she wished she could water ski again. It has been decades since she has done so. The energy and enthusiasm she puts into her workouts since doing this has been amazing. Now that she knows why the how is much easier to accept. Another client wants to ride horses. The list goes on and on. Trainers know the power of an upcoming reunion or wedding to motivate but we all have less obvious special moments we want to have in our futures. Find yours and you'll see what I mean.

Now I need you to engage your left brain by writing down this picture as specific goals preferably with a time frame. For example, if you see yourself eating healthy meals together as a family write down something like: buy vegetables at the farmer's market or health food store and make soup and salad for Saturday night's dinner. If your goal is to be more active as a family write down something like; take the kids on a hike around the nature center and play a game of freeze tag afterwards. You get the idea.

Please do not skip these two steps. It is important to activate your entire mind to support your goals. Then even when you are not giving conscience thought to them, your subconscious will be looking for ways to help you realize your dreams. The deadlines are important to or these activities will remain a dream and never become a part of your normal, natural lifestyle.

It was a shock to cycle for hours,eat smart and still not lose weight. As an athlete I knew I did not not deserve this outcome. Fortunately, I was able to discern that I had a problem that diet and exercise alone would not fix. Many other people believe that they are carrying more weight than they deserve but they have no idea why. Working with a qualified physician may help you find answers. I'm not giving you the details of the detox program prescribed for me because I believe it is in your best interest to have blood work done and have a physician tailor make the plan for you. So my last suggestion is to get blood work done and see a qualified physician that can help you.