Why Your Body Doesn’t Want You To Lose Weight: the Set Point Theory
Here’s why you’re struggling to lose that last 10 lbs and how to override it
When I qualified as a nutritionist and personal trainer, I worked as a health coach. One of the most common complaints I heard from my clients was the “I-lost-weight-but-gained-it-straight-back” phenomenon. Or, as a close second, “No matter what I do, I can’t seem to lose that 10 lbs!”. It’s really, really, really common. Here’s the truth: It’s not always your fault.
The answer (at least some of the time) lies in your body’s natural defense mechanism: it’s set point. Read on to learn more about the set point theory.
This theory suggests that your body has a preferred weight range, typically within 5-10 pounds, that it strives to maintain. Your brain and body work together to keep you within this range, making weight loss a challenging battle against nature itself.
I reference the set point theory almost weekly with a client, friend, family member, or random lady in the coffee shop. People underestimate how much their body wants to keep them alive, and keeping some extra fat is part of that battle. In the face of Ozempic, this topic becomes slightly more redundant. But either way, I wanted to share in case you’re one of the many…
