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Kenya lost 78 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Kenya lost 78 pounds. She didn’t let hypothyroidism, diabetes and insulin resistance stop her. The medication she was taking made her prone to weight gain, so she sought out a specialist to help her adjust her meds and took steps to change her lifestyle. Check out her journey.

Kenya weight loss

It was very hard for me to lose weight because I have hypothyroidism and other metabolic issues. However, with a strict diet and exercise I am finally down to a weight I haven’t been in 14 years. I’m still a work in progress.

What was your motivation?
My motivation was being here for my children and getting my life back.

What inspired you when you wanted to give up?
There have been times that I did feel that way. Especially, when I was going to a personal trainer for an entire year and only lost 5 pounds. I found a specialist who adjusted my thyroid medicine. I was told if I wasn’t watching my diet and working out I could have easily gained 50 pounds. When you have metabolic issues such as hypothyroidism and diabetes with insulin dependency, it’s very hard to lose weight. I was diagnosed with both in my early 20’s. At that time, I was not overweight. When you are over 40, your metabolism slows down naturally and society does not make it easy because they just assume you are lazy.

How did you change your eating habits?
I count my carbs and portion control is the key. I switched to meals with tofu instead of meat and the portions are basically no bigger than my fist. I eat a lot of veggies.

What did your workout routines look like?
I work out at least 5 times a week, walking at least 10,000 steps with my Fitbit and doing Fitbit challenges they get me motivated. I do yoga sometimes for stretching as well. I have been overweight so long that I have to modify some workouts because of my knees and age. For squats, I use the wall to help take off some pressure on my knees. Find a workout that is right for you and don’t let anyone, including yourself, discourage you from your weight loss goal.

Starting weight/Current weight
In August of 2012, my highest weight was 264, but I got down to 230 and stayed there for four years. My current weight is 186 pounds. I haven’t been this weight in 14 years. My height is 4’11”.

How long did your transformation take?
I really started in full force in September 2016. It’s been 4 months so far and my goal weight is 160 pounds.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Before turning to weight loss surgery, make sure you have testing done to see if you have medical issues working against you that can be addressed. Also, make sure that you know the side effects of any medicine that you are taking. A lot of medicine can cause weight gain as a side effect. Because I am insulin resistant, I had to take insulin at high doses which caused weight gain. I am on a medicine now that helps with my insulin resistance, so my insulin intake is lower. Social media can inspire you but it can also depress you. Remember, not everything you see on social media is real. Start with little goals, like losing 4-5 pounds a month. Drink more water and get an walking or exercise app that can help you increase the amount of time that you exercise.

Instagram: @stlblmn

kenya before and after

Hypothyroidism: How Does it Affect Weight Gain and Loss?

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hypothyroid3What is hypothyroidism and how does it affect weight gain and weight loss?

The thyroid is a gland in the body, located at the base of the neck, which is responsible for producing a hormone that helps to regulate your basal metabolic rate (BMR). Your basal metabolic rate is the rate at which you burn calories when you are at rest. On the basic level and stated simply: For most people with hypothyroidism, there is not enough of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) produced to keep your BMR at a high enough functioning level to provide natural calorie consumption. For some women, they are producing enough TSH, but there is a problem with their pituitary gland that doesn’t allow the body to distribute and use the hormone. This is a reason why women with hypothyroidism have such a difficult time with weight gain and weight loss. (Here is more detailed information on how doctors test for this condition)

Symptoms – From WebMD

  • “Coarse and thinning hair.
  • Dry skin.
  • Brittle nails.
  • A yellowish tint to the skin.
  • Slow body movements.
  • Cold skin.
  • Inability to tolerate cold.
  • Feeling tired, sluggish, or weak.
  • Memory problems, depression, or problems concentrating.
  • Constipation.
  • Heavy or irregular menstrual periods that may last longer than 5 to 7 days.”

Does hypothyroidism affect women only?

No. Hypothyroidism is talked about almost exclusively in regards to women as it is more common than with men occurring at a 10 to 1 ratio. For women, it is more common for people of Caucasian backgrounds closely followed by Hispanics and blacks. That said, it is important to realize that there is more clinical work that is starting to show that hypothyroidism is more common in African American men than previously thought.

How does it affect weight gain and loss?

Simply put, if you have hypothyroidism you could have a difficult time gaining or losing weight. What will develop as symptom depends on other metabolic factors but it is common for women to continue to have unexplained weight gain, or have a difficult time losing weight even when engaged in calorie restriction and extra exercise routines. One of the hallmark symptoms of hypothyroidism that also adds to difficulties reducing weight is fatigue, depression, constipation, muscle weakness and/or pain and a slowed heart rate. Any one of those additional symptoms by themselves will complicate weight loss, but when added to the metabolic problems caused by hypothyroidism it can make weight issues even more difficult to control.

If I have had this problem all my life, why am I just finding out now?

Many women with hypothyroidism have had the condition all of their life, but they are usually not diagnosed with it until the onset of menopause or a related symptom, like weight gain, that significantly affects their health. With menopause, it is with the shift in the hormonal balance of the body that the imbalance in TSH becomes most glaringly apparent through its symptoms. Many women aren’t diagnosed early because they attribute fatigue and weight gain to the natural process of aging or other factors. By the time the problem is diagnosed, they may have to go on medication or hormone supplements to ease the issue.

Why doesn’t the doctor just give me more of the hormone?

Hormone supplementation is something not to be undertaken lightly, as all too many women of another era discovered when the effects of estrogen supplementation were revealed. If your doctor suspects that you have hypothyroidism they may do a test on your TSH levels to more accurately determine if your body is producing too little, too much or just enough but the pituitary is not delivering it before they decide the best course of action to pursue. Unless your T4 levels are in the extremely abnormal ranges where life threatening conditions could develop, your doctor will probably look toward diet, supplementation and lifestyle changes to see if they can jump start the system naturally. Often, this is done with a very small and manageable does of TSH supplementation that isn’t cause for worry.

Approaching balance in stages

The important thing to remember if you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism is that it helps to put how your body works into context. Hypothyroidism alone doesn’t cause weight gain, loss or prevent either. The gland and hormones work in conjunction with many other elements of your metabolic system. Just tackling one issue as the cure-all isn’t going to work and an approach to achieving healthy basal metabolic rate should occur in stages. There are instances where hypothyroidism can lead to life threatening disorders. If you suspect that your thyroid may be causing you problems, talk to your doctor so they can perform the right tests and evaluations to find out for sure.  If you have already been diagnosed, it is important that you seek medical help and help with maintaining a lifestyle that will support you having a healthy thyroid and healthy hormone levels.

Here is more info on African Americans and Hypothyroidism.

hypothyroidism

Are the Green Tea for Weight Loss Claims True?

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green tea for weight lossIf you were to believe all the advertisements, infomercials and half the websites on the Internet that are connected to a product with green tea, you might think that it is the magical answer to weight loss. It can be hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to evaluating products and supplements aimed at helping people burn fat because the issue of obesity is highly charged and there is a lot of money made on diet products. The tried and true methods of reducing calories, eating healthy and increasing exercise can seem too hard to maintain, if your schedule is overburdened or your current weight and lifestyle habits make it hard to break through into healthy living. Green tea has been presented as a cure-all of obesity, but are the green tea for weight loss claims true? The answer is a resounding yes and a huge no. Understanding how green tea can assist in weight loss and how to use it to support a weight loss program will help you achieve your goals realistically.

How to spot when things aren’t what they seem

The first thing you have to accept is that the human body is not designed to lose a pound a day. The body is hard-wired to prevent starvation and will quickly seek to regain the weight loss when the chance comes, and not just regain it, but to build up an additional surplus of fat just in case it is placed into starvation mode again. This is why healthy weight loss is most often calculated at a pound every week to two weeks. This pace means that the weight loss has not placed stress on the metabolism that will create a backlash weight gain and that your habits have changed to support sustaining the healthy weight loss as well.

What green tea does

Green tea leaves are taken from the plant Camellia Sinensis which is indigenous to China and grows in many areas of Asia. The leaves are harvested and prepared with a minimum of oxidization, which preserves a high level of naturally occurring polyphenols in the leaf. The polyphenols can then be consumed by ingesting the tea or water the leaf has been steeped in. These polyphenols contain many properties that are just beginning to be understood and documented by the scientific community to support the practices the tea has been used for in traditional medicines. Polyphenols have been shown to provide support to the immune system, act as a diuretic, have high concentrations of antioxidants, and have the effect of raising the metabolic rate without also increasing heart rate. Traditionally, green tea is used to increase energy, fight off sickness and as a weight loss agent. The thought is that by ingesting regular amounts of green tea in powder, capsule or infused water the polyphenols act within the system in support of immune and metabolic functions.  However, this is a theory but one with a lot of information out there to back it up.

How to use it to support a weight loss plan

No green tea product is going to help you lose weight just by taking it alone. It’s not a magic pill.  Green tea is a diuretic, so you will experience some water weight loss but that is not permanent. Green tea has been proven in scientific studies to aide in weight loss by increasing the metabolism by up to 4%. Your metabolism is how fast your body can process fat to fuel, which is how weight is lost. Green tea has also been shown to increase energy levels, similar to caffeine, which can help you keep up with exercise routines. There is also evidence that green tea supports healthy blood sugar maintenance which is also beneficial to weight loss management.

Guaranteeing success

Green tea can play a very important role in weight loss. By using it in conjunction with calorie management and an exercise program, can help you to lose weight and keep it off.  Just think of it as any other supplement you may choose to use.  It’s a tool. One of the best ways to incorporate green tea in your diet is to use it as a substitute for sugary or high caloric drinks, such as lattes and other fancy coffees. In the end, adding green tea to your daily diet may assist you in reaching your weight loss goals in a healthy way that can be maintained, but it will not do the work for you.

Is Belly Fat Different Than Other Body Fat?

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belly fatMany people don’t realize that belly fat, also known as visceral fat, is actually different than the rest of your body. The belly fat has been linked to risk for a number of different types of things, from insulin issues, metabolism issues, heart disease, increased cancer risk, and increased type 2 diabetes risk. Even if you’re not overweight, the fat that is in your abdomen can cause a lot of issues.

The body has three different types of fat in it. Check them out:

  • Triglycerides circulate in your bloodstream. It makes up about 95 percent of the fat within your body.
  • Subcutaneous fat, which is the layer that lies directly below the skin’s surface, between the skin and the abdominal wall.
  • Visceral fat is the kind located deep within your belly.

It’s not so much what is in the visceral fat that causes the problem; it’s where the fat is located. It is actually found beneath your stomach muscles, which means that they’re the closest thing to your internal organs. Because of this placement, your internal organs start to use it for energy because it’s more efficient than getting energy from your skin fat. Your body acts much like you do; efficiency is key.  If you have an option between two places to get the same exact thing, you’re going to go to the place that is closer.

So, why is this dangerous? In old times, people assumed that fat was just stored energy, but it’s actually much more active than that. All fat cells continually secrete hormones and chemicals; these hormones and chemicals are healthy if you’re at a normal weight, they actually do good things, like regulate insulin, help to regulate appetite by allowing you to feel satisfied after eating, and even help burn stored fat. Essentially, this fat acts how fat is supposed to act. The fat does standard metabolic functions and is absolutely nothing that you have to worry about. That’s why it’s unhealthy to be without fat; you can actually starve yourself or, at the very least, get ill, if you have no fat on your body at all.

Where the problem comes in is when you are overweight or obese. If you are overweight or obese, your body has more fat cells, and those cells are much larger than they should be. These larger cells, as you would expect, work harder and secrete more hormones and chemicals than you need. Essentially, you’re getting “too much of a good thing,” which is when it becomes a very bad thing. The chemicals that come out of your fat cells start to impact your health over time. These chemicals play a huge role in diseases like diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and even certain cancers.

Alright, so why does belly fat get the short end of the stick? Don’t all fats do this? Absolutely not! Visceral fat cells actually produce more of those chemicals to start with, so if you’ve got a lot of fat in your stomach region, those chemicals are actually being produced at toxic levels. As I mentioned above, those toxins are getting into your internal organs because the visceral fat is where your internal organs are getting their “energy” from. So basically, by having the excess stomach fat, you’re actually poisoning yourself in a way in terms of what the fat is leaching into your body. That is incredibly scary.

This is why good health is important. Exercise and diet are incredibly important parts of keeping you healthy. If you’ve noticed that you have an excess of belly fat, make sure to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. The great thing is that belly fat responds well to time tested weight loss methods of eating and exercise. You doctor or health care professional can help you to get on a eating and fitness plan that can help you lose weight in that region so that you don’t continue to cause damage to your body.

Fact or Fiction: Are There Really Foods that Will Speed Up Your Metabolism?

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Responsible for how fast your body burns calories and fat, metabolism not only affects your current weight, it also determines how fast you will lose weight, how many calories you can eat per day, and how well you maintain your weight. With all of these factors relying on your metabolism, there are a lot of reasons why you want yours to be fast.

Recently, many diets have claimed that you can speed up your metabolism simply by eating certain foods. If such a magical combination of foods existed, anyone who wants to lose weight should know what foods speed up the body’s metabolic rate and include them in their diet, but do they exist?

Myth: Metabolism Boosting Foods

Each time you consume calories, you give your metabolism a little boost. But are there really some foods that boost it a little more than others? Aside from a few foods that increase the amount of calories burned – hot peppers, green tea, and cold water – there’s not much difference between the foods you eat when it comes to your metabolic rate. Even the few foods that do boost your body’s calorie-burning ability make such a small difference that it’s hardly worth mentioning. So, no, there are no foods that magically speed up your metabolism, making this tale a huge myth.

How Eating Affects Your Metabolism

Your body learns to rely on the amount of calories you consume each day, adjusting your metabolic rate accordingly. If you consume too few calories, your metabolism slows down, resulting in fewer calories burned. The more you eat, the faster your metabolism works. However, you have to eat only as many calories as your body can burn in a day for this to work. If you consume too many calories, your body will turn them into fat, resulting in weight gain.

Your metabolism also speeds up and slows down throughout the day according to how often you eat. If you go a long time between meals, your metabolism slows because your body doesn’t know when more food is coming. Therefore, it tries to reserve the calories it already knows it has.

Eating for a Speedy Metabolism

Increasing your metabolic rate has more to do with how often you eat than it does with what foods you choose. This is, of course, assuming that you eat healthy foods to begin with. Going a long time between eating slows your metabolism. When you finally do eat, your body burns the new calories slowly.

Eating increases your metabolism. Eating six small meals per day rather than three large ones speeds up your metabolism because your body is busy burning calories in anticipation of the next meal. For this to work, though, you need to be consistent. It takes time to train your metabolism to work at peak performance.