Have you ever heard the phrase, "The older we get, the harder it is to lose weight"? As someone who's experienced this firsthand and worked with countless clients going through the same struggle, I can assure you there's more to this challenge than meets the eye. In this episode on the Girlfriend Doctor podcast, we're diving deep into strategies for conquering weight loss resistance, especially focusing on overcoming those stubborn pounds and belly fat.
This episode features my good friend and trailblazer in women's health, Marcelle Pick, who shares her extensive knowledge of functional medicine for weight loss and the unique challenges faced in midlife. Let’s unpack why it's harder to shed those pounds and what you can do about it.
Marcelle Pick: A Trailblazer in Functional Medicine
Marcelle Pick is not just an expert in women's health; she's a pioneer. As the founder of the Women to Women Health Clinic in 1983 alongside Dr. Christine Northrup, Marcelle has spent decades integrating functional medicine into women’s healthcare. From being a medical advisor to Healthy Living magazine to appearing on Dr. Oz and writing multiple best-selling books, Marcelle’s contributions to health education and functional medicine are nothing short of revolutionary.
Understanding Weight Loss Resistance
For many of us, midlife brings a unique set of challenges. Have you noticed that despite exercising and eating well, you're still gaining weight? This phenomenon, known as weight loss resistance, is more common than you might think. Marcelle explains that stress, hormonal changes, and even childhood experiences can play a significant role in this issue.
Weight loss resistance often signals deeper-rooted issues such as adrenal dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, or gut health problems. Marcelle emphasizes the importance of looking beyond superficial solutions and addressing the underlying causes that contribute to this frustrating problem.
The Role of Adrenal Dysfunction
You might have heard the term "adrenal fatigue," but Marcelle prefers "adrenal dysfunction" to describe the inability of the adrenal glands to manage stress effectively. Your adrenal glands produce important hormones like cortisol, which help you respond to stress. However, chronic stress can lead to adrenal dysfunction, causing exhaustion, poor sleep, and, yes, weight gain.
Marcelle's approach includes evaluating cortisol levels through urine or saliva tests to understand the pattern of stress hormone production. If you're constantly exhausted or find yourself awake at night with looping thoughts, it might be time to evaluate your adrenal health.
Emotional Causes of Weight Loss Resistance
One of the most compelling parts of our discussion revolves around emotional health. Marcelle highlights how past traumas can manifest as weight gain in later life. Through her own experiences and those of her clients, she shares how unresolved emotional issues often sabotage weight loss efforts.
Healing these wounds through methods like Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), therapy, or even practices that increase happiness and decrease stress, such as ballroom dancing, pave the way for not just a healthier body but also a healthier mind.
Functional Medicine Approaches
Functional medicine flips the conventional script by focusing on the root causes of health issues rather than simply treating symptoms. Marcelle’s clinic incorporates this approach through comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans that may include dietary changes, supplementation, and lifestyle modifications.
For instance, she details how eliminating food toxins, addressing gut health, and even tweaking diet to include more bitter foods can dramatically improve metabolic function and reduce cravings. She also emphasizes the importance of genetic testing to tailor diet and exercise plans to individual needs, ensuring sustainable weight loss.
The Modern Dilemma: GLP-1 Agonists
With the rise of GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy and Ozempic, conversations around their effectiveness and long-term safety are crucial. While these medications can suppress appetite and lead to significant weight loss, Marcelle and I discuss the potential downsides such as decreased bone density, muscle mass, and even impacts on heart rate variability.
We both agree that while these drugs might offer a temporary solution, they don’t address the underlying issues leading to weight gain. There’s also a concern that once the medication is stopped, the weight may return, sometimes with additional pounds. Marcelle's approach advocates for using these medications cautiously, if at all, and always in conjunction with addressing the root causes of weight gain.
Transforming Your Journey
Remember, you are not broken. If you’ve been struggling to lose weight, it might be time to dig deeper into your health and emotional well-being. Marcelle’s insights emphasize a holistic approach that transforms not just your body but your entire lifestyle.
One of the fascinating aspects of Marcelle’s work is her ability to combine traditional and modern practices, ensuring that the solutions she offers are both effective and sustainable. Dancing, mindful eating, addressing emotional health, and understanding your body's unique needs are tools she offers to empower you on your journey.
For those interested in exploring more about Marcelle’s approach and diving deeper into these topics, I invite you to listen to the full podcast episode. Your path to overcoming weight loss resistance and achieving a healthier, happier life starts here.
Key Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Introduction.
[00:01:37] Weight loss resistance in midlife.
[00:04:27] Women's health empowerment and practices.
[00:09:31] Adrenal dysfunction in women's health.
[00:13:08] Burnout vs. laziness distinction.
[00:15:19] Mold toxicity and weight loss.
[00:20:20] Bitters and GLP-1 stimulation.
[00:21:16] Benefits of using Allulose in your diet.
[00:22:06] Removing food noise and methods that work for you.
[00:33:15] Homeopathic appetite control drops.
[00:35:26] Protein intake and physiology.
[00:38:25] The healing power of dance.
[00:40:27] More on weight loss resistance.
Memorable Quotes:
"We don't do cars. If cars are running out of gas, we put gas in it. So, we need to do the same for our bodies as well." [00:14:49] – Marcelle Pick
"We're complicated beings. You know, we do have things that can trigger us to have that body just go into that freeze state. And anybody that's struggling to lose weight, we have to help them. Number one, it's not your fault." [00:31:16] – Marcelle Pick
Links Mentioned:
Weight Loss Resistance Program
