Today I want to talk to you about the one solitary hormone that can either make or break your weight loss journey…
In fact, if you don't learn to control this hormone, you
might as well forget about losing fat at all…it really is that big of a deal.
There is one hormone known as the "Fat Burning
Hormone", and that hormone's name is leptin.
Leptin (derived from the Greek word leptos, meaning
thin), is essentially the "master" hormone that more or less controls
EVERY other weight loss hormone in your body… and your ability to burn fat as a
whole.You see, when you have leptin on your side, fat loss becomes easy. When you don't, losing even a single pound
can become virtually impossible.And here's the unfortunate news: just about everyone is unknowingly fighting a
losing battle with leptin each and every time they attempt to lose weight.
You see, the REAL underlying reason you may have failed
to lose weight in the past isn’t for lack of trying, you don’t have bad
genetics, and there’s nothing physically wrong with you… the truth is that you
failed simply because you didn’t know the simple ways to control your #1 weight
loss hormone… leptin.With that said, it's pretty easy to see why so many folks,
and perhaps you're one of them, downright struggle to shed their unwanted body
fat like I did, month after month, year after year.
Let me explain…
First, in order to burn fat, your body depends on these
two things:
1) high levels of leptin
2) highly sensitive leptin "receptors" (which
acts as the “lock” to leptin’s “key”)
Now for the bad news…
Anytime you go on a diet and reduce your calorie intake,
leptin levels plummet and fat burning is dramatically reduced to a snail's
pace.
Why?
Because leptin's main function is to protect your body
against starvation, and in the midst of decreased food intake (i.e. dieting),
your body unfortunately views your stored body fat as a huge asset to survival.
After all, body fat provides a vast supply of stored
energy and warmth, both highly-valued resources when food is in short supply.You
see, when you go on a diet, your body isn't aware of your hopes for a slim,
tight waistline or your desire to drop 20 lbs in time for your high school
reunion or summer beach season. In fact,
the only thing it does know is that your calorie intake is now below
"normal"… and to your brain, that's a big red flag.
The result: reduced leptin levels and dramatically decreased fat burning.
In fact, research has shown that leptin levels drop by as
much as 50% after just 7 days of dieting.
That puts you at only 50% of your fat-burning potential just one WEEK in
to your fat loss plan, and it only gets worse with each passing day.
And if that wasn't bad enough, with every pound you DO
struggle to lose, leptin levels fall even further, making it even more difficult
for you to continue to lose fat.
Why?
Because, as mentioned, in the face of calorie
restriction, your body views stored body fat as an asset to survival. The more
fat you lose, the more "danger" your body senses, and the harder it
is to strip away that next pound.
Hello, fat loss plateaus!
Now, I hate to continue to be the bearer of bad news, but
the scenario I just explained is actually only HALF the problem.
The other unfortunate reality is that the vast majority
of people are ALSO suffering from a
condition known as "leptin resistance" due to years of high body fat
levels and a diet full of processed foods.
Leptin resistance simply means that even at high levels,
leptin is no longer able to properly signal fat burning to your body,
dramatically decreasing its fat loss effects.
That's a pretty disheartening truth for the fat loss
enthusiast. There are some things you can do to prevent this from happening.
Simply put…….
1. When
you reach a weight loss plateau try eating more
2. Be sure
to change up your exercise routine
3. Don’t
get stuck doing long slow cardio sessions
4. Remember
: Everything works, Nothing works for ever
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