Category: Tuesday Tip

Tuesday Tip

Tuesday Tip: Slow metabolism preventing weight loss?

Dr Nancy P

Tuesday Tip: Slow metabolism preventing weight loss? 🍏

I often hear people complaining that their slow metabolism is why they can’t lose weight. Is this really the reason they can’t make progress?

There are variations in metabolic rate e.g. someone with a larger body will have a higher resting metabolic rate. This is the absolute metabolic rate and is related to your age, height, gender, muscle/fat mass etc. In addition two people with the same body composition, age, gender etc may well have some differences in metabolic rate. Aha I hear you cry – so that must be it? That variation must explain why some people find it harder than others to lose weight?

Unfortunately the variation isn’t as much as we think. Once you account for age, gender, fat and muscle mass, height etc you can predict about metabolic rate with about 80-85% accuracy. This leaves around 15-20% of the differences unexplained.

What does that mean in practical terms? Well if you predicted someone’s metabolic rate using their body composition etc at 1800 kcals you would see people ranging from 1600 – 2100 kcals per day. On average it’s a difference of 200-300 kcals above or below the expected rate i.e. you might be burning 200-300 calories fewer per day than expected. Whilst this isn’t ‘nothing’, it’s really not as great as many people think it is. It’s also not enough to justify why you aren’t losing weight if you’re eating 1000 kcals a day etc.

A recent study also found that these variations in metabolic rate were not related to weight gain. Those participants with ‘low’

metabolic rate did not gain more weight than those with a high rate. Why?

Well because resting metabolic rate is only part of the equation. It’s the behaviours you adopt that determine your progress – not your resting metabolic rate. If you have a higher metabolic rate but are sedentary and overeat calorie dense foods you will put on weight. If you have a lower metabolic rate and are conscious of what you’re eating, and active you’ll maintain or lose weight.

Focusing on something you can’t control won’t help – instead focus on what you can control – eating at a calorie deficit and moving more.

Happy Tuesday 🤗xx

Tuesday Tip

Tuesday Tip: Doing something is better than doing nothing

Dr Nancy P

Tuesday Tip: Doing something is better than doing nothing ⭐️

One of the keys to losing weight and maintaining it is consistency, and one of the key things that help with consistency is learning not to throw in the towel and say f*ck it every time things don’t go to plan.

Life is full of unexpected obstacles. Just when you think you’ve got things under control something will happen to potentially derail you – it could be small or large obstacles – unexpected illness, stress, unplanned socialising, etc etc. You can either let it defeat you and use it as an excuse to come off the wagon completely , or you can change your mindset and accept that it’s not about being perfect every single day. It’s about doing the best you can in the circumstances – that day.

So maybe you can’t fit in your planned 45 min workout, but could you do ten mins instead? Not going to hit that step goal – could you do a 5 mins walk anyway just to get a few more steps in? Not tracking your calories like you planned – ok well can you focus on making some different choices, fill up half your plate with veggies, cut back on a the dessert or booze; unexpected fish and chips takeaway – go for a lighter option of small chips and a small piece of fish, instead of the large cod, large chips, curry sauce etc that you usually have? Had a rubbish day and ate half a packet of biscuits? Stop stressing and just make sure the next thing you eat is back on track.

Even doing something, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is better than doing nothing! At least then you can look back on the day and say – it didn’t go to plan, but it was a lot better than it could have been.

Happy Tuesday 🤗xx

Tuesday Tip

Tuesday Tip: Tuesday Tip: Lose weight correctly, not quickly

Dr Nancy P

Tuesday Tip: Tuesday Tip: Lose weight correctly, not quickly 👍🏻 👍🏻

Crash diets, cleanses, detoxes, 6 week challenges, or excessive amounts of exercise may well give you some fast results on the scale but these fast results will very quickly disappear just as fast. So if you want to lose some weight, and then put it back on again, time and time again then definitely go for these options … but if you want to lose some weight and maintain it longer term then perhaps it’s better to take a different approach?

It’s not flashy, and it’s not fast but it does have a far better long term success rate (and costs nothing!). It will definitely take longer than a few weeks, there will be times you’ll definitely feel like it isn’t working, you’ll want to give up, your weight will definitely fluctuate or even ‘plateau’ for a time… but… if you stick at it, if you’re consistent and you’re in it for the long haul I guarantee you can reach your goals- for life.

What is this miracle approach you say? Nothing exciting I’m afraid …

⁃ Eat a moderate amount of calories (incorporate a moderate calorie deficit)

⁃ Moderate your alcohol/ take away / meal out consumption (note – I’m saying moderate – don’t cut it out – just incorporate it within your calories)

⁃ Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit

⁃ Eat a balanced diet – some carbs, some protein, some fats

⁃ Exercise for enjoyment – not to eat. So ignore any extra cals you burn exercising and don’t eat them back.

⁃ Walk

⁃ Get 6-8 hrs sleep

⁃ Stay hydrated

⁃ Find alternative stress relievers that don’t involve food or alcohol

That’s it! You don’t need to pay for some diet/challenge. It does require work and effort – but most things we want to achieve in life do? But if you’re willing to make the effort, and you’re patient and view it as a long term shift then you will reap the rewards!

Happy Tuesday 🤗xx

Tuesday Tip

Tuesday Tip: A few weight loss truths

Dr Nancy P

Tuesday Tip: A few weight loss truths ✨

There’s so much conflicting information out there and it’s very easy to get swept down the fad diet/weight loss river. Sometimes it’s worth just stepping back and focusing on a few, possibly unpopular, truths about nutrition and fitness. So here are a few of mine!

# Carbs aren’t inherently bad

Contrary to many people’s beliefs there’s nothing inherently bad about carbs. It’s the carlories that count – cutting carbs won’t automatically result in weight loss unless you reduce your calories. We need carbs – for fuel, cutting them out completely simply makes you tired, lacking in energy and miserable. Don’t do it!

# No food is inherently bad

See above! But for any food. There is nothing inherently ‘bad’ about any food – just the quantity you consume. Don’t demonise foods – it never ends well!

# Being sweaty / sore doesn’t mean always mean it was a productive workout.

Yes it can indicate that you worked hard, or differently, but equally it might just be that you’re sweating because it’s warm/ you’re more stressed / hormone related… and you might be sore simply because you’re using different muscles. Don’t use soreness or sweat as a measure of progress. Instead look at tangible achievements – lifting more weight, managing more push ups, etc.

# Exercise should never be punishment for what you’ve eaten. Exercise should be about making you feel good – improving health and fitness, enjoying yourself, having fun – getting endorphins going. Aside from anything you can’t ‘out-exercise’ diet, so try to divorce the two things.

# Your relationship with food is just as important as what you eat. Consider why you’re eating things as well as what it is.

# Reaching a number on the scales / dress size won’t automatically make you happy with your body.

# The only way to lose fat is with a calorie deficit. The only way to maintain that fat loss is by changing your habits and behaviours. Which is why fad diets, detoxes, cleanses etc don’t work long term.

# The best ‘diet’ is one that’s most sustainable for you!

Happy Tuesday 🤗xx

Tuesday Tip

Tuesday Tip: Say No to ‘Detoxes’

Dr Nancy P

Tuesday Tip: Say No to ‘Detoxes’ 🥗

It’s January and predictably across social media people are peddling “detoxes” and “cleanses”. We’re told our bodies are full of toxins from overeating at Xmas, and if you follow plan X / buy the pill/tea/shake you’ll get rid of them and lose weight/ feel/look amazing. You don’t need it, your liver and kidneys do a great job of “detoxing” you, and these products can make your health worse. But we still fall for it.. why?

# Post holiday detox

Over holidays we eat and drink more, so we crave simple, nutrient dense food like salads. Physically it feels good, and psychologically it feels good too; drawing a line under all the junk. This sort of “detox” isn’t silly, it’s just a word we use to say “lets get back to eating well”

# Bloat

Over-indulging, or eating certain foods makes you bloated e.g. rich foods, alcohol, beans, or foods high in salt, certain starches and sugars. If it’s a chronic issue see a Dr. If you’ve been eating lots of salt you will retain water, making you look and feel bloated, reduce the salt for a few days and you’ll be fine. Overdo the food and drink? You don’t need to do anything just eat normally for a few days.

# Constipation

If you’ve been eating badly you may be constipated. Most detoxes /cleanses are laxatives, which can permanently damage your intestines. So first of all, increase water and fibre intake, then increase fruits, veg, and whole grains, but do it gradually; a sudden fibre increase can make you feel worse. If that doesn’t help, see a Dr, not a Facebook ‘expert’.

# Fat loss

No, just no. A juice/pill/shake won’t do that! Sometimes just buying something is a powerful psychological message that you’re making a change and acts as a kickstart; which is why we fall for it. Sadly it won’t last, and you’re left out of pocket and likely to rebound. The more radical approach to losing weight, the more likely it is to fail. Slow and steady wins the race; make small, sustainable habit changes and you’ll reap the rewards.

It’s normal to want to reset, feel better and make changes, but you don’t need a “detox”. Just try to get some sleep, drink more water, eat veg and get moving. You’ll look and feel far better for it!

Happy Tuesday 🤗xx