Movement is KING!

Are you wondering why your weight loss isn’t working when you are following the meal plan that lost you the weight last time?

Has something changed apart from the food? Is it my hormones? My age? Genetics?

The answer to that is…. none of those factors are affecting your weight loss although you were probably hoping it was. Especially hormones, unless you have had your thyroid taken out (reduced BMR by ~30% - sure) or have hypothyroidism then weight loss may be impacted.

When we diet, our bodies will fight and fight to hold onto that stored energy. This mechanism has been built evolutionary within us over millions of years. When we try to lose weight, changes occur within us subconsciously without us being aware. And…

what seems to be the ultimate factor of this is our non-resting energy expenditure (NREE). This daily habitual tasks such as walking around, fidgeting, talking etc. Not the actual act of performing scheduled exercise.

By decreasing the amount of food as we diet, our bodies will compensate our decreased energy intake with decreasing our NREE so it can hold onto that stored energy. Rosenbaum et al. 2010 has said that NREE accounts for as much as 85-90% of the decline in TDEE below predicted values in weight-reduced subjects. This is due to declines in the actual amount of activity performed daily, less walking, less talking, more sedentary lounging around.

What’s this mean for you who is trying to lose weight?

Be aware of what you are doing on a day-to-day basis. If you are dieting and catch yourself lounging more than normal. It’s your body trying to save your energy. Your body will try its best to avoid moving but the key is… Move more, get leaner. Doesn’t have to be intense. Just keep moving.