Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

• 

  Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 14 January 2024

  Cholesterol is an organic molecule. It is a sterol, a type of lipid. Cholesterol is biosynthesized by all animal cells and is an essential structural component of animal cell membranes. It is a yellowish crystalline solid

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

• 

  Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 13 January 2024

  Metabolic syndrome is the combination of high blood pressure, high blood sugar, too much fat around the waist, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and high triglycerides. Metabolic syndrome increases your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

• 

  Dr. Duncan Miller MD Family Doctor, Vancouver, BC 09 December 2019 Broadway Plaza Family Practice Vancouver

  The sum of all the chemical changes that take place in the body that generate energy and allow tissues and cells to grow, function, use nutrients and eliminate waste.

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

• 

  Dr. Duncan Miller MD Family Doctor, Vancouver, BC 08 December 2019 Broadway Plaza Family Practice Vancouver

  The sum of all the chemical changes that take place in the body that generate energy and allow tissues and cells to grow, function, use nutrients and eliminate waste.

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

• 

  Dr. Richard Bebb MD, ABIM, FRCPC Endocrinologist, Victoria, BC 07 December 2019

  A disease in which the production of thyroid hormone is reduced. Symptoms include slow metabolism, tendency to gain weight and fatigue

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

• 

  Chantal Sayers Vancouver, BC 10 September 2019

  I'm wondering if the Keto diet would be a good option for someone like Karen. The ketogenic diet is a very low-carb, high-fat diet. It involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat. This reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. It sounds counter intuitive to add fat to your diet but replacing carbohydrates/sugars with fats forces your body to burn fat rather than carbohydrates.

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

• 

  K. Michael 14 January 2016

  @MichelleKaarto I agree with your concerns about making everything "lighter". Eating more chemicals might help with weight loss but it's not going to make you healthier

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

  • 

    K. Michael 10 March 2016

    @MichelleKaarto I don't think it's wishful thinking. I think with the obesity epidemic and the rise of food allergies, we will see a return to eating real foods

  • 

    AllieS 18 January 2016

    A really interesting point, especially when you consider what manufacturers have to compensate with to make their products "light" (low-fat, low-calorie, etc) but still taste good. The majority of the time sugar and/or salt will be added in excess to maintain the flavour that gets lost by reducing fat/calorie content.

  • 

    Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 14 January 2016

    I think one of the main problems too is that we look at all of these foods which are labeled fat-free or low-fat, and it encourages us to meet more of that food. By going back to whole foods and following Canada's Food Guide, perhaps we could somewhat reverse the obesity epidemic that we see today. Wishful thinking?

• 

  K. Michael 15 November 2015

  I was listening to a radio spot the other day for a diet book that was talking about the importance of getting back to eating like our grandparents did. It was something that really resonated with me. Eating more regular meals, more real food does seem to make more sense to lose weight

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

  • 

    Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 14 January 2016

    I feel like our whole society has shifted too much toward convenience foods and also those with empty calories. It's like there's a 'lighter' version of everything out there, and I still don't understand all of the effects of artificial sweeteners on our bodies. I think that our focus on diet and light or fat-free is negatively affecting our ability to lose weight and keep healthy metabolisms.

  • 

    Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 13 January 2016

    It makes sense because they did not put food in a box in a shelf for three months and then take it out and eat it. Food changed for everyone with the invention of the can and preservation in packaged food. Remember the old scurvy problem with long distance sailors dying from lack of fresh fruit.

  • 

    AllieS 13 January 2016

    It doesn't surprise me that there have been success stories from following Canada's Food Guide. It's formulated to take into account the needs of healthy people of all ages, and provides suggestions that are sustainable in the long run. A lot of the time people who just want to lose weight adopt eating patterns that they can't keep up simply because their body needs more than what it's getting - that's usually where a lot of diet frustration comes from. Having adequate proportions of protein, carbs, and fat goes a long way when it comes to fuelling your body properly and maintaining a healthy weight. Canada's Food Guide is a great resource to have to make sure you're getting those proportions right.

  • 

    K. Michael 05 December 2015

    @Michelle Kaarto I've heard of people having real lasting success using the Canada Food Diet as a diet plan

  • 

    Healthymama 16 November 2015

    Agreed - just losing weight is not motivation enough on its own sometimes. Rather a whole healthy lifestyle for life can have better results.

  • 

    Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 15 November 2015

    I like this way of thinking @K.Michael. What if we tried to follow the Food Guide in an attempt to reach weight loss goals - would we be successful? I think the problem lies in that we often look to restrictive diets to try and lose weight. There must be an impact on our metabolism the more we follow the 'dieting cycle'.

• 

  Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 04 November 2015

  Perhaps Karen needs to step back and think about where her motivation is coming from in order to lose the weight. So many of us get trapped in this desire to lose weight and go on a diet, and then we keep cycling through the phases of doing well, losing weight, and then gaining it back. A wellness coach could help Karen channel her motivation to be healthy and start breaking her lifestyle changes into small steps with specific goals that she can use to monitor her progress and plan for any obstacles along the way.

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

  • 

    Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 04 November 2015

    In some 40 years of continues working out the only thing that truly works for me is to never really miss a day. It seems as soon as you go a couple of days not exercising the need to go becomes significantly less. I recognize that I do not always go as hard on some days but I focus on regularity as it has effects on food an caring about my health across lots of boundaries I cross every day.

• 

  ShirleyG 22 October 2015

  Karen needs to understand her body and may need some pointers on what may work for her. She needs to see a dietitian to discuss ideas that will assist her. A program that is designed for someone else will not work for her. If she is not eating enough and exercising her body will not respond properly.

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

  • 

    Healthymama 16 November 2015

    She definitely needs to seek some professional guidance in her weight loss efforts. A personal trainer or nutritionist could be helpful.

  • 

    K. Michael 04 November 2015

    If you could watch TV and follow a diet program losing weight would be easy. Instead it's very hard and a lot more individual than people realize

  • 

    Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 22 October 2015

    I agree @Shirley. The cycle of repeated diets is also a problem, and unfortunately can really mess up your metabolism if you are following restrictive diets. We always see a goal of 1200-1500 calories a day for women trying to lose weight, however this goal could be totally off the mark for Karen. I would definitely want her metabolic needs considered and factored into a weight loss eating plan.

• 

  AllieS 02 October 2015

  It is important to realize that as you take on new dietary and exercise habits, your body adapts to these changes in a way that will ensure it still stores enough energy in case you go through a time of food scarcity. As a result, maintaining the exact same diet and exercise patterns may only produce results for a short period of time before your body becomes used to your new habits, and essentially figures out how to maintain your current weight. Karen may benefit from introducing more variation in both her diet and exercise routines, @SarahWare would you agree?

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

  • 

    Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 20 October 2015

    I would absolutely agree @Allie, and definitely support Karen switching up her exercise routine. Especially with resistance or strength training, your muscles get used to the same exercises over and over, and there are many ways you can add variety to your program. For weights, you can adapt your routine to target building strength or endurance, you can work out different muscle groups together to challenge yourself, and you can also play with the number of sets and the type of moves you are doing to fatigue your muscles in different ways. Those are just a few examples of ways that you can adjust your exercise program.

• 

  Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 29 September 2015

  Definitely the kinds of foods matter a lot in regards to if you are solely looking at total calories in the day.

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

  • 

    K. Michael 13 October 2015

    This is a good example of how confusing it is to lose weight. One person says 3 meals and snacks, another 5 small meals, another 3 meals no snacks. It's so hard to figure out what works for your body

  • 

    Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 29 September 2015

    Karen could really learn a lot from her dietitian in terms of the macronutrients, fibre, and fuelling properties of the foods she is choosing.

  • 

    Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 29 September 2015

    I would even go so far as to say when in the day you eat the majority of the calories. The old saying of eat like a king in the morning does not apply anymore. No its eat five.small meals a day so that your body can digest what you feed it.

• 

  Healthymama 22 September 2015

  1500 calories seems fairly low considering that she is busy and doing regular exercise. However it does sound like she has a metabolism issue because she should be losing weight just based on simple math alone!! She should definitely seek some outside assistance.

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

  • 

    Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 29 September 2015

    The issue lies too if she's eating too few calories her body can hold onto her weight instead of letting it come off. This will not enable her to reach her goals, and she needs to be aware of the danger of restricting her calorie intake further in an attempt to lose weight. Disordered eating patterns could be a risk for her, especially given that she seems motivated to reach her goals. Asking her dietitian about the warning signs of eating disorders could be helpful to Karen.

  • 

    K. Michael 29 September 2015

    One thing that I've found about losing weight is that the combination of foods I eat matters just as much as how much. I wonder if a dietitian would be able to help Karen discover what the best combination of foods are for her metabolism ?

• 

  K. Michael 15 September 2015

  The case study indicates that Karen is following the diet from a popular TV show. I wonder part of the reason she's not seeing weight loss results is that the food on the show is exactly prepared and it's difficult to duplicate that at home. A nutritionist or dietitian can also help if that's the case.

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

  • 

    Healthymama 16 November 2015

    She would be better off to find someone to help her with a program tailored right for her and her healthy lifestyle goals.

  • 

    Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 29 September 2015

    You're right K. Michael. She is following a diet that was tailored to another person and if it's from a TV show, is likely a bit extreme and restrictive to a certain degree. She needs to figure out her own metabolic needs, factor in her activity level, and start building a well-rounded eating plan from that which will support her weight loss goals.

• 

  Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 12 September 2015

  Karen definitely needs some support determining what her caloric needs are. 1500 kcal is a common daily goal used by women trying to lose weight, however you need to consider Karen's metabolism and her exercise efforts. Consulting with a registered dietitian can help Karen identify if she's eating the right amounts of the right foods, to stimulate her metabolism and to also help her fuel her exercise efforts.

  Reply to: Weight Loss and Slow Metabolism " Karen a busy mom of two "

  • 

    Michelle Kaarto, BScK, CSEP CEP 22 October 2015

    Following the blanket recommendations for daily calories is not advisable. You've got to follow the right plan for your body and metabolism when trying to lose weight. Working with a dietitian is the best way to understand your needs.

  • 

    ShirleyG 22 October 2015

    I agree with this. My sister was on a strict 1500 cal diet, including exercise. Her weight was staying the same and she was getting frustrated. She saw a dietitian who increase her calorie intake to 1650 and gave her some suggestions on exercise. She did this for 3 months and went back to the dietitian with great results. She maintained this for another 3 months and then reduced her calories back to 1500 on advice of the dietitian. She is doing well with maintaining her weight and she is at a place where she feels happy with her body.

  • 

    K. Michael 14 September 2015

    I agree. I know a number of women who found that they had more success with their weight loss once they increased their calories to take their caloric burn in to account.

  • 

    Mr. Jackson Sayers BSc., Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC 12 September 2015

    I agree with Michelle the right combination of good advise from a nutritionist and seeing a qualified exercise specialist can really help her understand the end goal of better understanding how to get her metabolism moving.