Weight Management
How many times have you tried to reach your ideal weight?
Maybe you’ve struggled to shed pounds for years, keeping them off for a little while before they inevitably return (often with reinforcements). When did your frustrating weight loss journey begin? Puberty or pregnancy? When you turned 40 or became an empty nester?
Or perhaps you’re on the other side of the coin: feeling too thin and fighting to stop losing weight. It seems like no matter how much you eat, your body isn’t listening, and it’s causing other scary symptoms, too.
Changes in your thyroid function, hormone production, gut microbiome, and immunity can all have a drastic impact on your ability to maintain a healthy weight. Lifestyle factors like chronic stress can also affect what you weigh – ironic, since little is more stressful than feeling unhappy every day when you look in the mirror, or missing out because your energy, mobility, or fertility aren’t where you need them to be.
As with every issue affecting your well-being, the starting point is to discover the root causes, with a holistic approach that remembers you are whole human with complex systems that all affect each other.
Approximately 42% of adults report issues with their weight. That means almost half of us feel we aren’t living our best life.
Your weight is about so much more than diet and exercise.
Of course what you eat and how much you move affect what you weigh. But not always in the ways people think!
For instance, you might be eating the “right” amount at every meal, but unaddressed food sensitivities are causing systemic inflammation, making it impossible to digest effectively or build muscle. If you’ve been exposed to mold or your thyroid function is impaired, dietary changes won’t make a sizable dent until the underlying issues are resolved. And did you know that exercising too much can actually trigger stress hormones that make it harder to lose weight?
The truth is that weight management is never as simple as calories in, calories out. And while customized meal planning and workouts are helpful, managing other important lifestyle factors, optimizing your detoxification, and having consistent support are just as crucial.
The numbers on the scale only tell a fraction of the story.
When you’re unable to control your weight, there are inevitably other symptoms present as well. Maybe you can’t get a good night’s sleep, or you feel cold all the time. You may have noticed changes in your menstrual cycle or your hair and skin. Your fatigue, anxiety, or trouble focusing could stem from something deeper than worries about your weight.
That’s why Ann Arbor Holistic Health practitioners listen carefully and ask plenty of questions. It’s also why we start with smart functional lab testing for every client who is trying to gain or lose weight.
We understand that what you weigh can be a sensitive subject, and you may feel overwhelmed or discouraged. Our goal is to empower you with facts and insights about your unique biochemistry, so you can replace that stress with encouraging, science-based strategies to reach your weight goals. As a happy side effect, your overall health can benefit too!
Quick fixes and health hacks often cause more problems than they solve.
Despite what so many filtered social media influencers might have you believe, there are no one-size-fits all diets that work. That goes for keto, Mediterranean, plant-based, you name it – they are only right for certain very specific digestive systems and metabolisms. Your own body holds the answers you need.
Deep Dive
Our free Initial Consultation & Evaluation is 45 minutes long for a reason. Lasting wellness starts with a real connection, not a rushed 10-minute appointment and a generic food chart.
Root Causes
The results from state-of-the-art functional labs can show you whether food sensitivities, nutrient weaknesses, detoxification needs, or hormone imbalances may be affecting your weight.
Unwavering Support
Our expert practitioners are empathetic and informed, ready to answer your questions and provide compassionate accountability and cheerleading as you make progress.
Jelly Donuts and Cola for Breakfast
That’s what Sammy was having every day when she was at her heaviest. No matter what she tried, she continued to gain a little weight every month, and her energy levels were at an all-time low. So she turned to sugar fixes to get her through the day and help her survive the misery of digestive upset, headaches, and joint pain.
Before she found Ann Arbor Holistic Health, Sammy went on a strict calorie diet. And it worked… sort of. She lost some weight, and her back ached less. But she still had a laundry list of other symptoms, and any time she lived a little, the pounds came right back. She decided she needed more support.
While portion control was one of Sammy’s challenges, it wasn’t the whole picture. Functional lab test results revealed massive inflammation as a result of multiple food sensitivities, and despite being overweight, she was actually malnourished. Her gut microbiome was also out of balance, and her body’s ability to flush out harmful toxins was severely impaired.
For Sammy, the weight finally came off permanently when she was able to balance her biochemistry. She learned how to eat the right foods for her body, she nourished her gut and hormones back to health, and she did some detox work. And voila! Without restricting calories, Sammy lost over 35 pounds and gained a new respect for all the ways her body’s systems are connected.
No matter how far you may be from your ideal weight, there are holistic solutions that care for your whole body and mind. If you’re ready to try a different way of thinking about your health, please schedule your free consult today.
Leaky gut negatively affects your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from the food you’re eating. That may lead you to eat more, creating a vicious cycle that harms your waistline and your health.
If your digestive system is irritated, then it’s not functioning at an optimal level. Food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances can affect how you metabolize food.
Too much stress can trigger your thyroid to slow down your metabolism in order to reserve resources until the danger has passed, affecting your weight in the process.