Weight Loss & Obesity

Weight Loss
Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in developed countries and is increasingly on the rise.   Most often it is due to increased food consumption coupled with decreased activity, although sometimes it is due to other health issues. 
Endocrine problems such as hypothyroidism and some drugs such as  contraceptive pills and anti-depressants can also cause weight gain. 
In addition, a clear link exists between obesity and insulin resistance.  Glucose from food which should be used for energy is instead routed into fat storage when cells do
not respond to insulin.  This type  of weight gain tends to be seen predominantly on the abdomen.

How Chinese medicine can help:
 Diet and exercise changes are paramount to any  weight loss program that retains lasting results.   Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are not a quick fix to shed pounds, but instead work to support the body physiologically by increasing metabolism, improving the function of the digestive system, supporting insulin metabolism, and eliminating fatigue that prevents activity.  
 
The Spleen/Stomach system will always be
implicated in issues of weight gain although the Liver and Kidney systems may  also be contributing. Assessments will be made to determine which organ systems are affected and points will be selected accordingly. 
Although initial weight loss from fluid may be dramatic, real weight loss from fat deposits should be gradual (about 1-2 pounds weekly is ideal). Weekly acupuncture treatments are recommended for a period of 3 months or until you reach your desired
weight.


What you can do to improve your
condition:

• Keep a food diary for a few days and write down  everything you eat and how you were feeling at the time.  This will  help bring awareness to the quality and quantity of food you are  eating.  You may be surprised to
  learn that sometimes you eat not because of hunger but because of boredom, nervousness, sadness  or other emotions.


• Make diet  changes slowly.  Fad diets and quick weight loss diets  usually do not bring lasting results and do further  damage to your     Spleen/Stomach system.   Slow and     steady should be your goal.


• Start by  reducing your food intake by 30% and eat at  regular times. 
  Small meals with  some protein will help your body regulate blood  sugar levels and reduce appetite.


• Here are some general guidelines to follow, but please note that your individual needs should be discussed with your practitioner.  Eat plenty of fresh organic fruits and vegetables (including green leafy vegetables and colored vegetables).  Vegetables should make up the bulk of your diet and are nutrient rich and contain fiber for healthy digestion.  It's best to lightly steam or cook vegetables to make them easier to digest and assimilate.  Consume moderate amounts of grassfed beef, free range chicken, wild caught salmon for protein and omega-3s.  Also include nuts and seeds for protein in between meals to help stabilize your blood sugar.  Finally, include small amounts of whole grains (such as brown rice, quinoa, barley, oatmeal).


• Avoid fruit  juices, soft drinks, refined carbohydrates, fatty and fried foods.     


• Avoid snacking in between meals, instead try drinking green tea with a little lemon.


• Exercise regularly.  Exercise cis3 makes
  muscle tissue more insulin sensitive so less sugar is shunted to fat
  deposits.  If you have been
  sedentary for a long time, start slowly and work up to increased amounts of
  exercise.  Take a brisk walk a
  few times a week and work up to more frequent and prolonged periods of exercise.  If you feel dizzy or have a racing heart, ease off on the intensity of exercise until your body starts to become accustom to your new activity level. Your goal should be 30-40 minutes of sustained aerobic exercise every day or at least several times a week.


• Eat your largest meal in the morning so you can work off calories throughout the day. Dinner should be the smallest meal and ideally eaten well before bedtime.  After dinner walks are relaxing and improve
  digestion.


• Discipline and  persistence will pay off but try to avoid being too rigid. 
  A good rule  of thumb is to do the right thing 80% of the time and
  allow yourself to make small indulgences the other
  20%