There has been a lot of buzz about the recent study that was
published regarding what happens to past contestant of the Biggest
Loser. The study followed 14 out of the past 16 contestants from Season
8 for the past six years. What they found, which is not surprising to any of us
who have struggled with weight loss, is that each of the 14 contestants followed
gained their weight back. What is big news is what weight loss does to our
metabolism, particularly when we lose large amounts of weight, like the
contestants on the Biggest Loser. Our
metabolism slows down. And what they found with the contestants is that even
after six years it remained slow. This is a problem and explains why we
struggle to keep the weight off that we have lost. It is not just about going
back to our old habits or a lack of willpower.
The hormone Leptin
seems to be the biggest influencer on our ability to keep weight off. Our body
keeps levels of Leptin constant. When we lose weight we mess with those levels.
Our body tries to maintain the level of fat it is used to so when our Leptin
decreases our body puts in to play mechanisms that make us hungry and keep our
metabolism slow so we hold on to more fat. Our body has no way of knowing what
is “obese”, “normal” or “underweight” for our bodies. What it does understand
is what it considers “regular” and “constant”. It will regulate according to
what is our usual weight. That is why, like with the contestants of the Biggest Loser, we have a hard time
keeping off the weight we have lost. Our body is fighting us and trying to get
us back to what it has known as our “normal state of being.”
So what are we supposed to do with this new found
information? Give up on trying to lose weight? Say good-bye to our healthy
lifestyle altogether? Is there any hope?
The gurus at the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center are
providing us with a glimmer of hope. They are clear about the reality that it
is not easy to succeed long term but they are equally clear that there are
those who have succeeded. They think the road map is in studying and mimicking
the behaviors and
lifestyles of those who have succeeded. The road map comes from the
National Weight Control Registry (NWCR). The
NWCR was established in 1994 by Rena Wing, Ph.D. from Brown
Medical School, and James O. Hill, Ph.D. from the University of Colorado to follow
individuals that have lost over 30 pounds and kept it off for long periods of
time. The NWCR
follows over 10,000 people currently. Dr Hill has also written a great book highlighting the successes from this research State of Slim.
What they see as evident
is that it is all about lifestyle and constant mindfulness. Those that succeed
are mindful about what they eat. They exercise regularly. And when they do gain
a few pounds, like 10, they are proactive and do something about it rather than
continuing to live with ongoing weight gain. Creating an environment that
supports you in a long-term healthy lifestyle is a must. This includes how you
live, how you eat, how you exercise and even the friends you keep.
So the way I see it,
the Biggest Loser study is a reality
check. The outcome is no surprise. We’ve personally seen it before. We guessed
the contestants were going to “fail” at keeping the weight off just as we have
in the past. The fallacy is in thinking the outcome could be any different.
There are no miracle cures or quick fixes. No doubt we all wish there were. To
succeed we know it is hard work and we need to create a support system to help
us succeed long term. Who do we need in our lives to help us? What tools
do we need to support us in healthy eating and living a healthy lifestyle? And
really important to me, and I suspect you too, how do we make it “doable” and
fun? If we can’t make it fun we won’t be able to sustain our healthy behaviors
long term.
Let’s commit to hang
in there together and have some fun while we are doing it. Are you “in”? May we
all Enjoy! And Live Vibrant!
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