There’s a saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Well your body is that old dog and it doesn’t like new tricks.
As a matter of fact, it craves stability.
It doesn’t like change…..
That’s why when you go on a crazy fad diet your body fights back.
In an effort to protect itself it down-regulates and starts reserving its energy stores.
As a result it becomes more difficult to lose weight.
It holds onto everything you are eating in an effort to keep you alive.
That’s one of the most extraordinary things about your body….it has this amazing ability to survive when food is scarce.
Now for a brief history lesson….
Back in the day, before anyone reading this was born, our ancestors were hunter gatherers.
When food was in abundance, we could freely eat all we wanted.
The more food we ate, the more fat stores we would build up.
Then, in times where food was in short supply, our body would use those fat stores as energy to keep us alive.
But that was thousands of years ago…
We are now living in a new modern era.
An era where food is literally everywhere.
Food abundance is now a permanent state.
If you get hungry, you can either go to your kitchen, go to the grocery store, or stop by your favorite restaurant to pick something up.
This is why overeating and calorie excess is so common.
But here’s the thing, while times have changed, the human body has not.
Your body still responds to “tough times” in the same way.
Back in the day those tough times may have been a dreadfully cold winter when crops where dead and food was in short supply.
These days a tough time is a crash diet in January.
Your body doesn’t know the difference so it will react in the exact same way it did thousands of years ago during times of famine.
Anytime you drastically cut calories, which usually happens when you go on a crash diet, your metabolism will start to decline and your hormones will start to change.
This is what your body does to help you survive.
The problem is, once your metabolism starts to decline, so will your daily calorie burn.
In addition, your body will start to release hunger hormones in an effort to get you to eat.
This is why crash diets don’t work….not in the long term at least.
End of history lesson…….
Now the question is, what can you do to lose weight without causing your body to go into survival mode?
First and foremost you need to stay away from any diet that requires a massive calorie cut.
It’s not good for your health or your metabolism.
Secondly, eat more real food!
This means fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and lean meats.
These types of foods tend to be high in nutrients, and low in calories.
To make it easier to stick with your new way of eating, consider planning your meals in advance….(check out this 7 day keto meal plan for a little inspiration. It’s free!)
The funny thing is, once you start eating more real food, you will actually be able to eat more food.
Which means you will be able to lose weight WITHOUT starving yourself.
Add in a little exercise and you will start to look as good as you now feel.
Ready to start your journey to a healthier you? Check out the resources below.
Free 7 Day Keto Meal Plan - Interested in giving the keto diet a try? Download this free 7 day keto meal plan. It includes 7 days of Keto (low-carb) friendly meals including snacks. Every recipe is quick and easy to make and guaranteed to taste delicious & leave you feeling full. This 7 Day plan was co-created by world-class chef's & nutritionists. Just enter your name and email to download instantly.
Fat Burning Kitchen - If you have been struggling to lose weight and you aren't sure why, this book can help. In it you will discover exactly what to eat in a way that BOOSTS your metabolism, balances hormones, FIGHTS stubborn belly fat, heals your gut, and increases your energy. Its 100% free. All you have to pay is shipping.
Custom Keto Diet - With the Custom Keto Diet you will get an 8 week meal plan that is based on your personal food preferences, daily activity levels, height, weight and target weight goals. Its a meal plan that you will actually enjoy and stick to. It takes the guesswork out of eating healthy!