Finding That Switch

How do we find that magical switch whereby your hormones turn to burning your own fat as fuel? The answer to that is not easy as it depends on your age, genetics, stress, sleep patterns, activity and so on. We are very complicated when it comes to weight loss. The hardest part is when we are off track or seemingly stuck in that endless plateau; this is incredibly frustrating, yet we must find what we need to do to turn ourselves into a fat burning machine.

I was listening to a lecture by a famous fertility doctor from Jacksonville, Florida. The intriguing part was not just how he managed his patients to have them become more fertile (without hormone therapy), using low carbohydrate and higher fat pattern of eating; but it was his own personal revelation that he finds he is quite fine himself eating only one meal per day. Over time he simply learned that he responded best when he only ate when he actually was hungry, and eventually this turned into one meal a day. This works for him.

Like most of us, he wanted to find what works, not just to lose weight, but to keep it off. I don't know the macronutrient content of his food (how many proteins, carbs or fats he eats), but I suspect his intake was high in vegetables, fat and protein.

In our very sedentary lives, I do believe we are eating much more than our bodies require for daily activity, and this is especially so when we tend to sit most of the day. I doubt, in his case, it was simply a lack of calories, but more that his pattern of eating allowed many hours of fasting where his insulin levels dropped and his own fat was his fuel source.

Possibly for some of you, it might be better to look at eating only 2 meals per day with no snacks in between. Or three meals on one day and one or two meals the next. The issue here, is that we have been so trained to eat three meals, and certainly three meals at specific times, that it is hard to break this personal and societal norm.

However, if you are on a plateau, or it seems impossible for you to "lose weight" then maybe changing the timing of your meals might be something to look at. Also, before you begin breakfast, lunch or dinner, ask yourself "are you really hungry?" Be honest here. Most of us aren't, but we are eating because it's time to eat. Maybe tomorrow you might simply have lunch and supper, and the day after, breakfast and supper. For me, it's mainly psychological that I eat lunch or breakfast. If I stay busy, hunger or the "need for food", really doesn't seem to be there.

We need to find that switch! During times of not eating, whether that be 12 hours, 18 hours or 24 hours, our bodies will turn to our own fat as fuel. The longer we work on this, the easier it becomes. Also, it doesn't have to be every day.

This is just one tool that you might think about. Certainly, lowering your sugar and carbohydrate intake would be step one, but if you don't seem to be responding, then add this tool and see if it can get you back on the road of weight loss.

Even with poor sleep, higher stress, and low activity levels, this may be one thing that you can work at to improve your weight and health.

I realize none of this is easy, but just keep trying to find what works for you and never ever give up trying.

Dr. Doug