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How to Lose Weight Healthily – Tips from a Nutritionist

If you’re caring for an elderly parent or relative and juggling a million different demands, weight loss might be at the bottom of your priority list. However, we know that the negative feelings that arise from being over weight can be overwhelming – just another thing you struggle to fit in! 

Although weight loss is a complicated physiological process, some companies and celebrity endorsements will have you believe that losing weight is simply calories in versus calories out.

However, losing weight can become increasingly more difficult as we get older due to reduced metabolism, hormones and lifestyle factors.ย 

Registered Nutritionist Daisy Ilchovska of Optimal Health Nutrition discusses the key things you need to consider when aiming to lose weight healthily.

How to lose weight heathily

Balanced Meals Vs Calories In

Are you focusing too much on calories? The truth is that not all calories are equal โ€“ for example different foods are metabolised in different ways. So, for example, if you just focus on calories you are unlikely to achieve long-term sustainable weight loss as your body needs good quality macro (protein, fat and carbs) and micro (vitamins and minerals) nutrients.

So, if a handful of gummy bears and a handful of almonds have roughly the same calories your body will metabolise and use better the protein and healthy fat from almonds and is likely to simply store the gummy bears as fat, to use as energy at a later stage.

Insteadย of counting calories,ย focusing onย having aย balanced plateย atย every main meal is a much more sustainable and healthy strategy.ย Make every main meal a balanced mealย by includingย a good source of protein (fish, chicken, chickpeas), good fats (avocado, nuts, olive oil) and carbohydrates (quinoa, sweet potatoes, roasted veg).

Fibre Intake

Fibre intake (from vegetables, legumes, nuts etc.) keeps you fuller for longer and lowers your blood sugar levelsย –ย sometimes responsible for cravings!

Ensure that over half of your plate is filled with fibre rich non starchy vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, cucumbers, lettuce for every main meal.

fibre for weight loss for elderly

Good Fats

Good fats such as Omega 3โ€™s from nuts, seeds and oily fishย do not make you fat. They will keep you fuller for longer and may even help with weight loss.

Blood Sugar

Keeping your blood sugar stable will help with weight loss and keepย cravings at bay. Strategies include balanced main mealsย (see above), avoidance of constant snacking, consuming all carbs (including fruit) with some fat, avoiding all fizzy/sugary drinksย and potentiallyย supplementation with Chromium, Omega 3 and Berberine.

Carbohydrate Tolerance

Most people have higher carb tolerance in the morning.ย 

It might be best to consume your biggest meal which contains complex carbohydrates (such as sweet potatoes, quinoa, wild rice, oats) in the morning but still aim to make it balanced by adding protein and healthy fats.

Stress

Any form of chronic stress such as psychological, physical or toxic/environmental may affect weight due to Cortisol (stress hormone) release.ย 

Cortisol will โ€˜pumpโ€™ glucose (sugar) in your blood stream as yourย body thinks you need it to manage the stressful situationย –ย thinkย running away from a tiger!

managing stress to lose weight

Finding ways of managing stress such as counselling, meditation, tai chi, yoga etc. may have an effect on weight management.

Exercise

Under-exercising or over-exercising may have an effect on weight.

Under-exercising

You need an adequate physical activity every day. Exercise helps build muscle, improves detoxification pathways and is an important adjunct element in weight loss strategies. Depending on overall lifestyle aim to exercise at least 3 times a weekย in addition to other physical activities such as walking.

Over-exercising

Too much exercise without adequate recovery time (very individualised) may drive Cortisol (stress hormone) to increase chronically. High Cortisol is linked to blood sugar dis-regulation, which impairs weight loss.

Sleep

Sleep helps regulate your metabolism, hormones linked to hunger/satiety and Cortisol levels. Ensure you are sleeping 7/8 hours per night, ideally between 10:00 pm โ€“ 7:00 am.

Water Intake

Adequate water intake is essential in weight loss strategies because it can be a natural appetite suppressant, it helps you detoxify, increases calorie burning and helps to metabolise carbs and fat.

Aim for at least 2 litres of filtered water per day.

Hormonal Issues

If you are doing everything right, but you are still not losing weight, the reason might be that you have an underactive thyroid or imbalanced hormones โ€“ such as Cortisol, Insulin, Leptin and Ghrelin. For more information on the role of hormones in weight loss look on the Optimal Nutrition website.

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