Weight Loss Woes

Whenever we discuss health and fitness, the subject of weight loss or achieving our ideal weight is always going to be a part of the conversation.

Weight loss is a very big issue (no pun intended) and a growing portion of the population are desperate to attain a thin physique in any way they can. This paves the way for all types of pills, powders and potions to be marketed in a billion dollar weight loss industry; preying on peoples desire to lose weight whether it is in a healthy way or not.

When we explore this issue from the health viewpoint, we find that there is often an underlying health problem that is causing the weight gain, rather than just a lack of willpower. The stick thin image is also a false goal that people would be better off replacing with the aim of being fit and healthy with vibrant energy. I have experienced being overweight at one time, and I always kept in mind how good it felt to be healthy, rather than focusing on a figure on the scale.

Several years ago I broke my leg (femur) at Tae Kwon Do training which is where my weight problem started. I was unable to exercise for quite some time, and the trauma of breaking my leg and the operation to repair it, had a negative affect on my thyroid and adrenal glands. It was a difficult recovery and my overall health declined.

During the six months that I was healing, I gained about an extra 30% on top of my normal weight. Along with the weight gain, I had low thyroid symptoms such as severe fatigue, depression, brain fog, feeling cold all the time and my hair started falling out.

When I had recovered from the actual injury, I started a slow program of exercise and made sure that I was eating very well, but the weight proved very difficult to lose.

It wasnt until I started on the correct treatment to support my adrenal and thyroid glands, that I made a full
recovery and easily came back to my pre-injury weight. This just goes to show that even the best diet and exercise program will not have the desired effect if there is a metabolic disorder affecting the body.

With the correct treatment I lost that stubborn weight in a matter of a few weeks, and my other symptoms such as fatigue and depression also dropped away. Once a metabolic disorder is corrected, the body can start functioning properly again.

So if you are battling with a weight problem, make sure you work with a good health practitioner to investigate all of the possible underlying causes, and dont just assume that you need to eat less and exercise more.

By: Leisa Wheeler

Naturopath Leisa Wheeler guides people towards a healthier lifestyle through living, raw foods and
exploring healing on an emotional level. Her insightful and thought provoking lecture is now on DVD
www.emotionalaspectsofhealingdvd.com and you can read more about health matters at her blog
www.embracinghealthblog.com