6 Reasons Why You’re Not Burning Fat
I get this question all the time of why someone may not be burning fat and the answer is not a one-size fits all. For example, even if someone may be religious in the gym working out, what they do outside the gym is as important, if not more important. Below are the top six reasons people may be missing when considering burning fat.
Inflammation- inflammation has its time and place and can be helpful for mitigating bleeding (think when you get an injury it tends to swell) however, chronic inflammation can create havoc on your body. One simple step to reduce inflammation is to mitigate the number of polyunsaturated fats (vegetable oil etc.) you consume, and replacing them with healthy fats (avocado oil, coconut oil, virgin olive oil, etc.)
Micronutrient Deficiency- human bodies depend on our food sources to fill us with the nutrients needed for cellular functions. Considering agricultural soil around the world has been sucked dry of essential nutrients, the majority of our foods are nutrient-poor. One solution is eating a diverse, whole-foods diet and supplementing with vitamins if needed.
Hormonal Imbalances- having personally realized this myself, the endocrine system is a complex and exciting system to understand. Exposure to chemicals, plasticizers (phthalates, parabens, etc.) can result in endocrine disruptions. An endocrine disruption can also create hormonal imbalances which show up in many different ways. (slowed metabolism, anger with hungriness, etc.)
Food Intolerances & Allergies- food allergies tend to be more severe than intolerances. An allergy occurs when your body identifies proteins that it cannot digest, leading to your body attacking them. Intolerances to food are more subtle and can occur for a wide variety of reasons. Start taking note of how you feel after you eat certain foods. (low energy, etc.)
More Exposure to Cold- many people think of fat of what we can see on our waistline. There are several forms of fat including white and brown adipose tissue. White adipose tissue is located on our waistline and can be seen on the exterior of our body. Many people think of this as “bad fat”. In comparison, Brown adipose tissue is mostly located around the sternum, rib cage, and clavicle and generates heat directly mobilizing the energy stored within White fat. and cold exposure that can enhance fat burning capabilities via thermogenesis. For example I use a cold tub at 52 degrees fahrenheit weekly.
Overtraining- overdoing it can increase your cortisol levels and exacerbate any hormonal imbalances. Exercise puts stress on the body which can be beneficial but too much stress without proper recovery can lead to injuries. Try listening to your body and seeing how it feels, take time off.
