Stop Counting Calories! The Truth About Weight Loss They Don't Want You to Know
So many of us have found ourselves stuck in a cycle of calorie counting and restrictive diets in pursuit of weight loss and health. But, the evidence from research is increasingly telling us that calorie deficits and restriction disrupt metabolic function which leads to a range of adverse outcomes, including an increase in cravings, chronic fatigue, elevated stress levels, and mood fluctuations.
Not to mention that yo-yo dieting often results in decreased fat oxidation, further hindering your chances of sustainable weight loss. I wish someone had told me this when I was in my 30’s!
Having been a yo-yo dieter for many years myself, I learned this the hard way. Ending up heavier than I was when I first entered the revolving doors of Weight Watchers. I now know, after years of re-training in eating psychology coaching and nutrition, that the only way to increase your chances of feeling more energised, improving your mood and managing your weight, if that’s what you want to do, is to do things that are aligned with supporting the health of your metabolism.
The only way to approach long term, sustainable weight loss
Central to supporting the health of your metabolism is the role of hormone regulation, and dietary factors play a crucial role in balancing hormone levels, particularly those involved in blood sugar regulation and fat metabolism. By optimising your diet to support hormone balance, you can improve insulin sensitivity, enhance fat oxidation and regulate your mood better.
It’s also important to understand that food is only part of the picture. We are increasingly stressed out these days and cortisol, AKA the stress hormone, contributes to weight loss resistance. Doing what you can to regulate your nervous system is incredibly beneficial for many reasons; decreased circulating cortisol, a reduction in the likelihood of emotional eating and the wider benefits of supporting your health in general.
If you’ve been sold on ‘quick fix’ diet culture, it’s important to recognise that healing your metabolism is a gradual process that requires patience and commitment. You need to buy-in to more sustainable lifestyle changes that promote overall health and well-being, and this includes adopting a mindset focused on nourishment rather than deprivation and understanding that your health is about so much more than just your body weight.
As a food and eating psychology coach my role is to is to advocate for that and empower women to prioritise metabolic health and reclaim control over their relationship with food and their bodies. Honestly, shifting away from calorie counting and restrictive diets, and embracing evidence-based strategies for nourishment is really the key to feeling so much better in yourself.
I know it takes courage, but it’s the way forward!
If you've enjoyed this read, then why not join my email list? I share free content every month designed to help you to improve your relationship with food and support the health of your metabolism. Sign up here. If you're keen to get to work on your relationship with food, restore your energy and manage your weight more easily with the support of a qualified coach, then take a look at The Non-Diet Method, starting again May 15th.
