  Self-Evaluations Free Nutrition Report What Our Clients Say
Professional
Consultants
DONNA F. SMITH, C.C.N., C.N. WILLIAM
H. BRELAND, P.T., S.C.S. ROBERT J. WOLFF, D.C. T. ROGER HUMPHREY, M.D.  Advanced
Clinical Nutrition
Donna F. Smith |
 |
 |
|
THE FAT FALLACY
& THE TEN BIOLOGICAL DYSFUNCTIONAL FACTORS "A new way of thinking about Weight Management." by Donna F. Smith, C.C.N., C.N. |
Weight loss can no longer be achieved by will power, a balanced diet and exercise alone. Though these components are important in all health-oriented goals, whether it is to strengthen your heart or lose weight, there are multiple factors present today which make this "Old Formula for Weight Loss" difficult to achieve by itself.
Overweight people often berate themselves needlessly for lack of will power, whereas I believe it is not will power, but health improvement which is ultimately needed for successful weight loss. People tend to find the will power when they know the appropriate steps to take to achieve their goal. By appropriate steps, I means those that work. Once the appropriate steps were will power, balanced diet and exercise, however, this "Old Formula" applied when the greatest percentage of our food intake came directly from our own farms, in the pre-industrial days before "food processing" and "fast foods" became a way of life.
Successfully losing weight and maintaining your ideal weight today requires a new understanding, a "New Formula."
Since 1981, through observation and research, I have discovered ten (10) biological dysfunctions or factors which inhibit successful weight loss and/or the subsequent maintenance of ideal weight, i.e., weight management. These are provided below:
| 1. | Digestive System - A whole, hard, chewy apple goes through various mechanical and chemical changes from the moment you take your first bite to the moment when the apple's byproducts and waste is eliminated through bowels and kidneys. If even one part of this process is dysfunctional, undigested food and beverage byproducts remain in the gastro-intestinal system, ferment or rot, and then become toxic to the human body. When the body is unable to eliminate undigested food, byproducts/waste or any toxin, the fat cells become the body's primary storage place. The more toxins in the body, the more fat cells the body will grow to make a place for the toxins. The fatter the person, the more toxic the body. | |
| 2. | Lymphatic System - When undigested food or toxins such as microbials (viruses, yeast, staph, strep, bacteria), parasites/worms, and other foreign substances travel through the lymphatic system, it becomes very sluggish and the metabolism slows down. This, then, can inhibit fat, fluid and food metabolism. | |
| 3. | Heart - A weak or dysfunctional heart can cause fluids to collect in the extremities and thus fluid, not fat, causes weight gain. People may notice more weight carried in the extremities when compared to other areas of the body, e.g., fatty or edemic arms and legs. | |
| 4. | Thyroid - The thyroid is a key gland in metabolic function. Hypothyroidism (slow thyroid function) can cause lowering of your metabolic rate, i.e., inhibits fat burning. Thyroid hormone deficiency affects the brain and heart function. Thyroid T-1 hormone controls the electrical input and charge of the brain. Thus, the brains loses its ability to effectively communicate to areas of the body which control the processing of fat, fluid and food. This breakdown in communication results in organ, gland or body system dysfunction and promotes the storage of fat, fluid and food. Thyroid T-4 hormone controls the rhythm of the heart. The effects on weight management as a result of a dysfunctional heart is described above. | |
| 5. | Metabolism - An inefficient metabolism (i.e., Kreb's Cycle, which produces energy for mobility and all your biological functions), inhibits fat burning, contributes to fat storage, and increases fat cell growth. | |
| 6. | Intestinal System - If the body is unable to eliminate undigested food, fat, and fluid, they remain in the intestines. The intestines will then stretch and expand to make room for this added food, fat and fluid to prevent blockage of the elimination canal. Otherwise, a blockage of the elimination canal would lead to death by auto-intoxication. This life-protecting mechanism, however, causes the stomach to protrude. Even in relatively thin people, you will notice a protruding stomach, which no amount of exercise seems to flatten. Until the undigested food, fat or fluid is removed from the stomach and intestines, the stomach will remain protruded and perpetuates weight gain. | |
| 7. | Ovary/Prostate - These glands, when dysfunctional, retain fat, which is easily recognizable in women and men as "fat or thick thighs." | |
| 8. | Kidney, Bladder or Cerebral Fluid - These imbalances causes fluid retention and thus promotes weight gain from excess fluids, not excess fat. | |
| 9. | Lack of Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) - This fatty acid regulates the body's manufacturing of fat cells. Once 10% overweight, the body becomes deficient in GLA causing less biological control over the number of fat cells produced. Even after successful weight loss, fat cells may continue to increase due to the lack of GLA and thus weight is regained. | |
| 10 | Mental/Emotional and Spiritual Distress
- Negative emotional/mental states can lead to ill health and weight
gain from physical abuse of food, drugs, and alcohol. Yet, another
frequently overlooked mental/emotional state is the person's belief
about his/her "ability" to lose and maintain their ideal weight. This
too affects the successful weight management.
|
People with minor dysfunctions in these 10 biological areas may find success in losing weight and maintaining their ideal weight for a time. However, a closer look reveals that though the bathroom scales indicate ideal weight, a front and rear view in the mirror indicates fat, fluid or food collected in the stomach, thighs, waist, chest, arms and upper back areas. The body has lost is proportional shape. It has bumps and rolls and dips in places not meant to be, even with an adequate exercise program. As time passes these minor dysfunctions become major dysfunctions affecting the body's ability to manage its weight. Lack of correcting even minor dysfunctions will eventually lead to health breakdown and weight gain.
My response to the weight loss calls I
receive is that "I approach weight loss from a different point of
view: The focus being on "health improvement vs. weight loss."
After the appropriate tests have been run and a comprehensive health assessment
performed to determine the areas of dysfunction, imbalance or insufficiency,
a health improvement program is designed. The program naturally corrects
these biological dysfunctions inhibiting effective weight management.
Functional body systems have no choice but to release unwanted fat, fluid
and food, and by doing so, the body naturally returns to its ideal weight
and proportional shape. Weight loss then becomes a natural process of
health improvement. Improved health is the key to maintaining ideal body
weight.
A frequent comment I hear from clients is,
"I lost ____ pounds and I hardly noticed it." To me, the ideal
weight management program is one where people enjoy the process of becoming
healthier and are amazed at the beautiful side effect, called "weight
loss." The stress, anxiety, and obsessive focus on weight loss, which
accompanies most weight loss programs, is not a factor in this new approach.
Now, you have the "New Formula" for successful weight management.
For more information, e-mail: wsnqas@aol.com.
Copyright 1998 Donna F. Smith
Click here to complete questionnaires for Clinical and Sports Nutrition Analysis
www.womensportsnutrition.com