Weight Loss Block #3: Elimination Issues

1 - Recycles Toxins - Constipation causes toxins to be reabsorbed by the liver overburdening it and so it cannot produce adequate bile which stimulates peristalsis (intestinal motility). This becomes a cycle.

2 - Your Fat is Protecting You - Since these toxins cannot be eliminated through the colon, the liver has no choice but to send them to be stored in your fat cells - to protect the rest of the body (your extra fat has a good purpose in this case).

3 - Not Safe to Lose Weight - Unless you get things "going", it won't be safe to break down the fat, because there is no way to get the toxins out, so your body will be resistance to fat loss.

4 - Estrogen Dominance - When one is constipated, estrogen levels in the body rise leading to hormone imbalance, because estrogen that was supposed to leave via the colon is getting recycled back to the liver, and thus causing higher and higher levels of estrogen.

5. Makes Your Thyroid Not Happy - Elevated estrogen in the body raises thyroid-binding globulin levels, while simultaneously decreasing thyroid hormone availability, setting the stage for thyroid issues. Issues with chronic constipation itself can also be indicative of thyroid issues. Slow thyroid = slow intestinal motility. You don't need to be verifiably diagnosed with hypothyroid for this to be relevant. There are many symptoms that point to a sluggish thyroid, long before the situation becomes pathological. You should "nip it in the bud", before it gets so bad that you end up with a diagnosis.

6 - Inflammatory Fat - If your belly is hard and sticking out, despite not being able to pinch an inch - then one or more of these issues could be happening in your colon: inflammation, hardened feces in pockets called diverticuli and/or visceral fat marbled through your abdominal cavity (liver, stomach, intestines and often the arteries as well). Visceral fat is the worse kind and is associated with increasing the risk of serious health problems. This inflammatory fat will not budge until inflammation in the colon is stopped.

7 - Bad Bacteria Induced Cravings - A toxic colon breads the growth of bad bacteria which cause cravings for sugar and starchy carbs - leading to more weight gain. Not to mention eating too many of those foods leads to weight loss resistance, because they stimulate insulin, the fat storage hormone. When your diet is high in these foods, you end up over eating too - because leptin resistance rises along with insulin resistance. You end up simultaneously storing more fat, while not getting the feeling of satiation that would stop you from overeating. Essentially, you eat more, and more of what you eat turns to body fat.

8 - Don't Feel Full - If your constipation is caused by a deficiency of fibre rich foods, you might also have a larger appetite, because fibre rich foods, make you feel full longer (fibre is removed from most processed foods).

9 - Processed Food Feels Easier to Digest - People who have weak digestion and an inflamed intestinal tract often choose processed food to avoid stomach aches etc., because when your digestive system is weakened, it is easier to digest those foods. Unfortunately though, those same foods are high in sugar and refined carbs, driving up insulin, and stop the body from getting what it needs at the nutritional level to heal. So basically while it feels better in the moment, it leads to more inflammation overall.

10 - Harder to Eat Healthy - Difficulties with digestion and elimination, actually make it hard to eat healthy, because many foods that are healthy in general for a person without underlying health imbalances, will trigger constipation, gas, bloating, and cramping in people with digestive and elimination issues. That is why you have to address your digestive weakness & intestinal inflammation first - before you can achieve optimal health and thus normalize your weight naturally.

11 - Inflammation - Diarrhea with alternating constipation, is a sign of intestinal inflammation. Inflammation stalls weight loss by driving up insulin resistance. Not to mention, it causes the body to hold onto water to put out 'the internal fire'. That extra water will make you feel fat - without even putting on a pound. This can lead to binging, if it triggers you to throw in the towel on heathy eating. However, people with chronic diarrhea tend towards being under weight, because they are not absorbing nutrients well.

12 - Some Fibres Help, Some Don't - When you eliminate grains, root vegetables and fruit, soluble fibre, is primarily replaced by insoluble fibre found in lower-carb non starchy veggies that don't bulk the stool as much. You may need to account for this to formulate a dietary approach that doesn't cause constipation and thus put the brakes on fat loss. Everyone is different though - for some people, insoluble fibre works better to alleviate constipation because it adds bulk to the stool, without also attracting water and creating a 'gel like' bulk the way soluble fibre does. In some people fibres that result in that 'gel like' substance cause constipation. This is an example of why permanent weight loss requires a personalized approach when you have underlying health imbalances.

13 - Stress Constipates - Some people are constipated by too much raw fibre in general and from drinking too much water. Being told to drink more water and eat more fibre just makes the situation worse. Usually this is the case when a person is compromised, by having had to endure chronic intense stress, and as a result have acquired deep nutritional deficiencies. The more stress you have in your life, the more nutrition your body needs to cope with it. Yet under chronic stress, it's very easy to neglect our health because of poverty issues with time, money and energy. Not to mention in this state, the body is also literally being broken down and damaged by stress hormones. Feeling tense, also causes the colon to tighten, making it difficult to have a bowel movement.

14 - Your Low Fat Diet Isn't Helping - Fat plays a role in stimulating intestinal motility and promoting more regular bowel movements. A nerve signal from the stomach called the gastrocolic reflex gets the colon ready for elimination. Very large meals and meals that contain a decent amount of fat, both stimulate this communication reflex. So if you are constipated you may not be eating enough fat, and if you are overweight, and constipated, you may feel compelled to overeat to "keep things moving".

15. Some Natural Sugars Help Constipation - Some natural sugars also have a laxative effect such as: lactose in dairy, fructose in fruit and sorbitol in dried fruits, because they attract water into the bowel. So when you remove these foods from the diet, you can end up increasing the tendency towards constipation, so this needs to be accounted for as well when formulating a personalized approach.

Would you like to heal your elimination issues naturally, and at the same time unblock your weight loss resistance?

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When you put your health first, the extra weight comes off naturally - as a good side effect of having achieved optimal health!

Hormone issues are just one example of the '8 Weight Loss Blocks' that we identify to individualize your weight loss journey.