Have you finally managed to shift that stubborn 5kg, only to find it back again six months later? You’re not alone.
Numerous studies have shown that dieters who lose large amounts of weight through intensive calorie counting and exercise may struggle to keep it off.
Most recently, a study tracked former America’s Biggest Loser contestants for six years after the program ended. Of the 14 contestants studied, the majority struggled to maintain their weight loss and quickly regained a significant amount. And although the study isn’t large, anecdotally this pattern holds true for many former contestants across the show.
The reality of resting metabolic rates.
It seems obvious that these contestants would struggle outside of the program’s controlled conditions – who has time to exercise eight hours a day in the real world? But many of the issues the participants had maintaining their weight in fact related to their resting metabolic rates (how many calories a person burns when at rest).
Researchers determined that although the contestants were overweight when the show began, they had a normal resting metabolism and were burning a normal number of calories for people of their weight.
However, the show’s extreme approach to cutting calories appeared to radically slow participants’ metabolisms. As a result, regardless of their food intake, they didn’t burn enough calories to maintain their thinner sizes.
Even more shockingly, as time passed the former contestants’ metabolisms did not recover. In fact, they became even slower and the former contestants continued to put on weight, despite eating the same amount.
A doctor weighs in.
GP and I Quit Sugar: 8-Week Program expert Doctor Corina Baylis isn’t surprised that cutting calories can so spectacularly backfire.
“The more prolonged the dieting period is and the more profound the restriction, the greater the metabolic damage,” she says. “The metabolic slowing comes from loss of muscle mass and hormonal changes as the body tries to regain its set point.”
So basically the body rebels, and fights tooth and nail to return to its former weight!
Losing leptin vs losing weight.
Researchers who studied the Biggest Loser contestants after their initial weight loss, also found that they had lower leptin levels following the program.
This meant they were constantly battling hunger, cravings and binges. It’s no wonder they gained weight.
When you eat less calories, your body holds onto them
But that’s not all! According to endocrinologist David Ludwig, when you cut calories your fat cells hoard the calories you do consume, leaving cells in organs, such as the brain, without enough.
This triggers hunger hormones – to drive you to eat more calories – and, again, your metabolism slows down, to conserve the calories your organs do have.
So what to do?!
While we don’t focus on weight loss on the 8-Week Program, many people find they do lose weight, and keep it off! This is because rather than cutting calories, we include satiating nutrient-dense foods, which ultimately helps maintain weight loss, if that’s your goal.
Are you ready to transform your life and find food freedom?
Join our 8-Week Program today (and you could win lunch with Sarah!)
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