Weight loss.

The Weight Loss Journey

3 main stages:

  1. Weight loss phase – choosing the right programme for you. This will vary from 1 client to another but I only coach programmes that follow the science (see below) so this is most commonly the Metagenics Shake It programme but may include variations by others such as Michael Mosley e.g. The 800 Fast Diet or the 8-week Blood Sugar Diet
  1. Setting your new weight – stabilising your new weight
  1. Maintaining your new weight – While succeeding in weight loss is an upfront goal, the long-term goal is very much about teaching you how to maintain that weight to within a kilo up or down This is very important to the way I work and that process is individualised as 1 size does not fit all. Referrals from personal fitness trainers have occurred as they have seen the benefit of my work in what they do because of limitations in exercise being able to shift stored fat.

Weight Loss Process Overview

The process that works best is as follows:

  • An initial Assessment session to get information about you (health, weight, lifestyle, work and family life etc). This gives me a good sense of which programme will work best for each individual to be successful, the assessments also include a:
    • Quadscan BIA: (Bio-impedance analysis) which gives me an indication of body composition, weight ideal, hydration etc; and we
    • talk through your goals and agree a plan; and
    • go over options and process including follow ups etc.

It’s very difficult on your own and to decide which process to use. I offer the following:

  • Coaching: support and close guidance enhances the likelihood of you succeeding. Knowing you are not on your own and that you have a professional to help trouble shoot and support you should any difficulties arise.
  • Safety: I have trained to use an assessment and monitoring tool called Bio-Impedance Analysis (quadscan) which allows me to assess how your body is responding to the weight loss phase of the program by being able to assess cell quality, inflammation, hydration levels etc. The BIA retests every visit, or every second visit enables me to troubleshoot should that needs arise. This could mean taking a supplement or eliminating a problem food etc.
  • Motivational: accountability together with talking, recording and scanning allows me to track your progress. Watching a steady reduction in your unwanted fat mass is very motivational; as is watching the reduction in your BMI (Body Mass Index); reduction in cardiovascular risk; improvement in cell quality; This is incredibly motivating for clients. Copies of these reports and graphs are provided to you. BUT nothing is more motivating alongside this when your energy, sleep and pain all improve!
  • Homeopathic/Naturopathic treatment: there can be times when it is useful for me to prescribe a homeopathic remedy or a herbal tonic etc for those who show any signs of struggling due to the detoxing aspect of the weight loss phase

Background Science

The way in which fat is reduced matters. The programme/s managed by me are scientifically backed and focus on putting your body into a safe level of ‘fat burning’ called ketosis. This means you lose weight from the inside out not the outside in. That is, you burn stored unhealthy fat. Note: there are many online high fat (dirty keto) extreme ketosis diets which are not supported medically.

This diet also means you are not hungry as you are living off what you are eating, and your own fat stored which helps to supply the energy you need.

The low-level ketogenic diet will help to reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease and will help lower cholesterol and blood pressure as well as help with a myriad of other health ailments.

Most weight loss programmes target the fat just under your skin (Eft Pos Fat) whereas people need to lose the stored fat (Long Term Deposit Fat). Just as you can’t take out a term deposit with your Eft Pos card you cannot shift this stored long term deposit fat by reducing calories alone. Simply reducing calories – leaves you hungry, low in energy and looking flabby and gaunt.

Safe low level healthy ketosis not only allows you to lose weight without being hungry (due to the energy from fat burning) but also results in reshaping your body because it’s shifting from the stored fat areas. In addition to this most clients will experience and increase in general energy and wellbeing alongside many other health issues such as a reduction in hot flushes for women with menopause, a reduction of symptoms such as heart burn, mucous reduction, need for metformin (for those with diabetes and so on).

The byproduct too is learning how healthy food can be delicious and breaking old patterns and habits.

Most people will lose 1 kilo of fat mass per week. In the initial week or two it will be higher due to fluid retention caused by the inflammation.