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Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight!

losing weight

Has your scale been stuck at the same number? And no matter how hard you try, it does not move an inch? During a time like this, it gets difficult to stay motivated to get rid of the weight we’ve been trying to lose, despite working out and eating healthy. There could be certain other factors at work here which are preventing you from losing weight. Let’s understand them! 

Factors That Prevent You From Losing Weight 

  1. You Are Not Eating Enough: Our body requires fuel in order to keep working. It’s like a car – you can’t run it without enough fuel. The same goes for our body. You can’t expect your body to function efficiently or lose weight while you’re starving. Eat within a calorie budget as eating less or eating more can both be the reason why you aren’t losing weight. 
  2. Compromised Gut Health: Eating food is only half the story of good nutrition. How that food is absorbed and digested is the other half. If your gut is not healed and healthy, then it can be one of the strongest reasons for you not being able to lose weight.
  3. Less Supply Of Fat To The Body: Fats are important for the absorption of certain vitamins and also for optimal functioning of our brain, heart and body cells. Choose plant based fats like walnuts, almonds, olives, avocados, flaxseeds, etc. as they contain the healthiest types of fatty acids.
  4. You Are Stressed: Chronic stress releases cortisol, which in turn raises blood sugar levels and this again triggers the pancreas to release more insulin and more insulin means more sugar to the cells which gets stored as fat.  
  5. You Aren’t Sleeping Enough: When you sleep, your body is in the recovery stage with the help of certain hormones. If you are not sleeping enough, then your body’s first priority is to fight inflammation instead of helping you lose weight.
  6. You Are Overtraining: Indulging yourself in rigorous workouts for more than an hour every day without rest creates inflammation in the body and the body goes into stress mode – which is again not in the favour of weight loss. Aim for only 45-60 minutes exercise for 6 days a week followed by 1 day for rest and recovery.
  7. Your Vitamin D3 and B12 May Be Low: Studies have shown that deficiency of any of the vitamins can cause weight gain too. In fact, several studies investigating the effects of vitamin D on weight loss suggested that it could suppress the storage of fat cells and effectively reduce the fat accumulation in the body. So, make sure to keep your vitamin D3 at an adequate level. Vitamin B12 is often associated with weight loss because of its ability to boost metabolism and provide lasting energy.
  8. Your Thyroid May Be Underactive: When a person’s thyroid is underactive, metabolism goes down very slow due to certain changes in the body. So losing weight will be slower as compared to a healthy individual. 
  9. You May Have Food Sensitivity: In several studies, it has been found that nearly 70% of people are dairy intolerant and 30% have gluten sensitivity. If a person with any of these consumes dairy and gluten-rich foods, it leads to inflammation and the body heals that first. This hinders weight loss.
  10. Your Meals Are Not Balanced: Losing weight is all about eating a well-balanced diet by including complex carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, and fibres in order to nourish your body with all the essential nutrients. You may lose a good amount of weight by going low or high on one or the other food groups but that happens for just for a short duration of time and is going to hamper your metabolism in the long run.
  11. Expecting Too Much or Being Unrealistic: Setting an unrealistic goal and bounding your body within a time frame will increase your stress levels. Set a goal which is not only for losing weight and going back into your desired shape, but is also a holistic approach which should have a time period which is more realistic and not a quick magical expectation. If you have not gained this weight in a month or two, how can you expect to lose it in such a short period of time? 

We hope this article helps you understand why you are not losing weight. You can additionally consult with a GOQii Coach or a GOQii Doctor by opting for a personalized health coaching subscription or sign up for GOQii Transform – a personalized weight management program. You can read more about it here: https://store.goqii.com/transform-weight-program 

To read more articles on weight loss, click here. 

#BeTheForce 

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Cardio For Weight Loss: High Intensity vs Low Intensity

cardio for weight loss

We are well aware that Cardio is the best form of exercise to achieve any kind of weight or fat loss. But to understand the intensity required to achieve this, is still a little unclear. While researching, I kept coming back to the same question, what’s better – high-intensity or low-intensity training? There’s just way too much information trying to sway readers without considering their individual goals and needs. 

Don’t worry! We’ve put together a few things you should know about in this article. It will give you a better idea of what low-intensity and high-intensity cardio training mean and will also help you decide which one you should go for! 

Low Intensity Cardio 

This workout encompasses consistent movements anywhere between 30-60 mins. It includes walking, cycling, swimming, light jogging, etc. The intensity is approx 40-60% of your maximum heart rate (your maximum heart rate = 220 – your age). 

Benefits: 

  • Consistent movements help maintain a steady heart rate (one can talk while doing any of these exercises)
  • You use more oxygen in these kind of exercises (hence fat is used as energy source)
  • Helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by promoting good blood circulation
  • Reduces hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar levels) in people with diabetes
  • Builds muscular endurance 

Disadvantages:

  • Due to the principle of adaptation, the body quickly adapts to become more aerobically efficient. So only doing low intensity training can eventually become counterproductive to your goals, especially if one of your goals is long-term fat loss or when you hit a plateau.
  • To keep up with the body’s quick aerobic adaptation process, a person would need to continually run for longer and longer distances and durations just to burn the same amount of calories they did when they first started.

High Intensity Workouts 

These workouts include quick, intense exercise bouts and short rest periods. Ranging from 4-30 minutes max. These types of workouts include a combination of sprints, burpees, squats, jumping jacks, pushups and an endless variety of other drills using only body weight or sometimes equipment like dumbbells or kettlebells. The intensity varies from 70-90% of maximum heart rate with 60-65% max heart rate in rest periods. 

Benefits: 

  • No equipment or gym needed as it can be done anywhere (great for frequent travelers)
  • Helps build muscle mass
  • Time efficient: energy is burned more quickly and even after exercise
  • Anaerobic exercise, since there is no time for oxygen consumption, the body burns more carbs
  • Because of the oxygen debt created, the body consumes extra oxygen post workout (EPOC- excess post-exercise oxygen consumption) and hence, continues burning fat post workout as well. So it has the dual benefit of carb and fat burning.

Disadvantages:

  • The body requires a day or two post HIIT for recovery, so this form of workout cannot be done daily.
  • It is physically intense! They are also harsh on your joints due to the high impact forces created in exercises like Burpees or Squat Jumps. So, if you’re just starting your fitness journey or have weak joints, HIIT cardio may not be the best place to start.

Which One Should You Choose?

It depends on you, your current level of fitness, your preferences and goals. Low-intensity is a great place to start if you have not worked out for a long time or are recovering from an injury. But if you already have experience and want to switch things up, lose some weight quickly or finally achieve your goal of going faster or further, give intervals a try. Don’t forget to be mindful of your body. Take breaks when you need to, don’t overtrain. Your body needs to rest, heal and progress! 

We hope this article on cardio for weight loss helps you achieve your goals! To learn more, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to live, interactive sessions on GOQii PRO by booking a class via the GOQii App, where you can get one-on-one guidance in real time by certified fitness experts.  

Get active and #BeTheForce 

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Why You Shouldn’t Throw Away The Egg Yolk

benefits of egg yolkEggs are the easiest and fastest to cook. Not to mention, they’re one of the most favorite meals! Almost all of us savor eggs in various preparations such as an omelette, boiled eggs, poached eggs, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, egg curry, egg sandwich, and many more.

Eggs basically have three parts- the outer shell, the inner 2 parts, namely the white albumin and the yolk. Among these three, the outer shell is what we discard and the inner white and yolk is what we consume. But, many of us are still not open to consuming egg yolks. We believe that it is very high in fat and cholesterol and hence, bad for health. But, what we fail to understand is, its immense nutritional power.

Egg Yolk versus Egg Whites

Nutrient

 White Yolk % Total in White

% Total in Yolk

Protein

3.6 g

 2.7g 57% 43%
Fat 0.05g 4.5g 1%

99%

Calcium

 2.3 mg 21.9 mg 9.5% 90.5%

Magnesium

 3.6 mg 0.85 mg 80.8%

19.2%
Iron 0.03 mg 0.4 mg 6.2%

93.8%

Phosphorus

 5 mg 66.3 mg 7% 93%
Potassium 53.8 mg 18.5 mg 74.4%

25.6%

Sodium

 54.8 mg 8.2 mg 87% 13%

Zinc

 0.01 mg 0.4 mg 0.2%

99.8%
Copper 0.008 mg 0.013 mg 38%

62%

Manganese

 0.004 mg 0.009 mg 30.8%

69.2%

Selenium

 6.6 mcg 9.5 mcg 41%

59%

Thiamin

 0.01 mg 0.03 mg 3.2%

96.8%

Riboflavin

 0.145 mg 0.09 mg 61.7% 48.3%
Niacin 0.035 mg 0.004 mg 89.7%

9.3%

Pantothenicacid

 0.63 mg 0.51 mg 11% 89%
B6 0.002 mg 0.059 mg 3.3%

96.7%

Folate

 1.3 mcg 24.8 mcg 5% 95%

B12

 0.03 mcg 0.331 mcg 8.3% 91.7%
Vitamin A 0 IU 245 IU 0%

100%
Vitamin E 0 mg 0.684 mg 0%

100%

Vitamin D

 0 IU 18.3 IU 0% 100%
Vitamin K 0 IU 0.119 IU 0%

100%

DHA and AA

 0  94 mg 0% 100%
Carotenoids 0 mcg 21 mcg 0%

100%

Nutritional Benefits Of The Egg Yolk

From the above table, it is evident that the egg yolk has higher amount of nutrients compared to the egg white. Egg yolks contain vitamins like A, D, E, K, B6, Folate, B12. Among these, vitamins A, D, E, K are found only in egg yolks and not in egg whites. Egg yolks are among those very few foods that naturally contain good vitamin D content.

Egg yolks have good amount of carotenoids; lutein and zeaxanthin. Carotenoids are colourful pigments that give the egg yolk its yellow colour. These carotenoids are known to act as antioxidants that protect different parts of the eyes from free radicals, thus preventing age-related macular degeneration to set in.

Egg yolks and egg whites, respectively, contain 13 types of minerals. These minerals include calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, sodium and selenium. The proportion of all these minerals is more in the egg yolks compared to the egg whites.

Nutrients in egg yolks, such as Choline, help in regulating cardiovascular function. Now, coming to the most dreaded feature of the egg yolk-fats and cholesterol! But, it’s not at all as bad as we think.

Egg yolks contain what we call as Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) in the form of DHA and Arachidonic acid. Omega 3 fatty acids like DHA are required in the body for the proper functioning of the brain and retina of the eyes. Omega 6 fatty acids like Arachidonic acid, are needed for healthy skin, hair, libido, reproduction, growth and response to injury. These Essential fats are also needed in the body for protecting the functioning of the nervous system.

The Cholesterol Issue

We confuse dietary cholesterol with cholesterol in the blood stream. In fact, high levels of LDL (the major carrier of cholesterol), can be the cause of certain heart diseases. Bottom line is that it is perfectly safe to have your favorite egg yolks without thinking about suffering a heart attack. It is found that, low-carbohydrate diet filled with saturated fats is actually more responsible for increasing blood cholesterol and causing cardiovascular problems. But, yes. Egg yolks are high on fats and cholesterol so, they are better had in a limit in daily diet. 1-2 whole eggs per day are the safe limit to have eggs on a daily basis, without worrying about heart diseases.

We hope that this article on egg yolks helps you enjoy your eggs whole, and any way you like it. For more on nutrition, check out Healthy Reads. For further clarity or information, you can speak to an expert by subscribing for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

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Taking Ownership Of Diabetes Through Education and Awareness

Diabetes ManagementDiya was a young girl who seemed as active as can be. She trekked, hit the gym, albeit sporadically, had a healthy appetite and as she called it, ‘lived to eat’. At 30, there was a blood donation drive and check-up in the organisation she worked at and here, she was diagnosed with diabetes. There were no other alarm bells ringing; she thought she was healthy! The doctor prescribed medications. She carried on with her life till a shooting pain in the chest made her rethink her lifestyle.

Prakash was detected with Diabetes in his late 30’s. A history of smoking, stress infused work situation, being overweight and a family history of Diabetes made a potent combination which led him to the road to Diabetes. He continued his unchecked lifestyle along with sporadic visits to the general practitioner till he found his vision blurring and a burning pain in his limbs, which made it difficult for him to sleep. Faced with diabetes complications, he knew he had to seek help from the right doctors, eat the right diet and correct his lifestyle before it was too late.

That is the scenario for most people and that is the stealthy attitude of diabetes; it creeps in and hits you. Once diagnosed, either medication is taken or not. Rarely is there a consistent follow-up. Medications tend to plateau after a while and if there is no consultation with doctors regularly, no scheduled blood tests, no nutrition assessments, no exercise patterns, it augurs for something deep and dark. This is seen as the initial concerns with diabetes control. Not everyone takes it critically. But not everyone has access to proper doctors and nutritionists.

Diabetes Is Not Taken As A Serious Disease

Consistency is key for maintaining and even reversal. Yes, in the early stages, a reversal is possible. A diabetes patient needs support, needs family and friends to assist in their journey, as it is a challenge. More than mere support, it is about adherence.

It is about breaking the habit. It is about changing habits. The first feeling when one is diagnosed is shock, helplessness, feeling of depression. As an illness, diabetes is debilitating in the long run as it has an overall effect on almost every part of the body, externally and internally. And yet, it can be controlled, and in some cases, reversed.

But now comes the challenging phase of education i.e. control and solution, and it is not easy. Besides medical advice, traditional indigenous methods are offered, and they have been helpful. Hence, understanding what goes into the treatment of diabetes is crucial.

So let’s look at the aspects of diabetes management.

1. Education

At first, you’ve got to understand the diagnosis – is it Type 1 or Type 2. Understand the various repercussions of the type of diabetes you have. Consult your doctor, read reputed websites for knowledge of diabetes and diabetes management. Listen to conventional wisdom and follow the advice of the doctors. Get on a plan.

2. Nutrition

Nutrition involves two aspects – Medication – those suggested by the doctors and home grown indigenous supplementary methods have also been beneficial. The other aspect is Food – what can be eaten, what can be paired together, and what must be avoided.

Meal composition – high protein, low carbs. Understanding foods with a high glycaemic index (foods that spike up sugar levels in the blood are to be avoided). Another important aspect is the timing of when you eat. Fad diets are not helpful and can be harmful. Sustainable, sensible eating and not temporary ‘diet eating’, one in which you can measure what you eat for a long period of time, is important.

Hydration – drinking water is extremely essential. Essentially, what you ingest can help in lowering possible future microvascular damage and other complications.

3. Control

Diabetes care needs discipline. Controlling diabetes involves complying with a proper course of medication and a healthy living construct. It is imperative that you maintain regular follow-ups with the doctor. Blood work, especially HbA1C levels must be checked every quarter to enable proper diabetes care.

Most doctors complain that follow-ups are low, if any. What has shown progress is that along with medications, the main aspect is weaving exercise into your lifestyle. Walking and light exercise has shown to have tremendous benefits in controlling and lowering HbA1C levels. Recent studies have shown that a 10-minute walk after every meal has proved as beneficial as a 30-minute walk every day.

4. Solution

So how do we control and/or reverse diabetes? Diabetes may be a global pandemic and India has the second highest number of cases, but the solution is simple! It is proper management through medication adherence, education, lifestyle changes, self-monitoring, keeping up with doctor appointments and awareness of the issues that could be faced in the future.

The first step is to take ownership of the disease. This can be achieved through awareness, which happens through education. The medical community and the Diabetes Patient Community on Social Media and other close knit communities or groups ensure that you understand what people are going through, and the solutions that are available. Holistic management of diabetes ensures that the patient with diabetes wins in the game of life. Do not panic. It is easy and definitely do-able. It is not rocket science!

If you need help or support managing Diabetes, join GOQii’s Diabetes Care Program. It’s India’s only diabetes program that is driven by Smart Science and Personal Coaching to improve Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PP), and reduce HbA1c levels. You can subscribe here: https://store.goqii.com/diabetescare

For more tips on how to manage diabetes, check out Healthy Reads.

#BeTheForce

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