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Why Do People Struggle to Lose Weight?

People find it difficult often to lose and sometimes gain weight because of one's body tries to maintain a normal weight by increasing the metabolism when one gains weight over their normal and slows down the metabolism when one loses weight under their normal.

This is why it is very difficult for people who are trying to lose weight to lose "those last few pounds". There is a hormone called Leptin that affects the metabolism. When you become overweight, Leptin levels go up and stimulate the metabolism, when you go under your normal weight, they go down.

I found Green Tea to be a great stimulant to Leptin after stumbling upon a study on catechin polyphenols many years ago before the whole green tea fad became public. The catechin polyphenols are largely destroyed by the fermentation of tea leaves (which makes black tea). Green tea is of the same plant, but the leaves are processed differently and retain much more goodies! I was able to intake an additional 500 calories drinking two large Arizonas, and maybe as much as 1000 calories more when I drank 4-6 cups of Japanese green tea. When I stopped drinking Green Tea and kept my diet I started to put on weight.

So when I don't have Green Tea I try to watch what I eat, but it's a great tool in weight loss.
 
i have nothing to add, but this is an interesting thread :)
 
All this said, many studies I've seen argue that variation in weight is mainly genetic (to the tune of 80 percent). That figure is meaningless unless we know what the background variance in non-genetic factors is though. I wonder if the subjects involved had relatively similar diets to one another.

What can we glean?
I think the research is showing that people tend to have a set point in terms of weight, given a certain lifestyle. Want to change your weight and find a new set point? Change your lifestyle permanently. This is fucking hard. If your set point is naturally high, you may find yourself needing to endure hunger all the time to maintain an average weight.

Accordingly, on the other end of the spectrum, many if not most skinny people eat the average American diet, but are not overweight like the average American.

Exercise helps, but it's not a way out of the bind. It makes me hungry as hell, and I eat more, and my weight remains constant. Good think I like where I am. :)

Other factors intervene, of course

ebola
 
Being hungry constantly is definitely a reason as to why people struggle with weight loss. I have been told by heavy people who permanently lost their weight that while the pounds were comming off, they simply never felt like they were full.

Since feeling full is certainly a deep seated biological drive, it makes sense that the sensation of constant hunger prevents weight loss. Simple but relevant, no?
 
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ebola? said:
>>because they are lazy and gluttinous>>

But this statement does not help people lose weight...
Click to expand...

but it can if you look at it in the right way. the majority of people DO lose weight if they exercise every day and eat less than their body needs. sorry, i wasn't trying to offend anyone. i've had times in my life when i had difficulty losing weight and i know it was only because i wasn't trying hard enough. as soon as i got serious and began daily exercise (5-7 miles) and eating less, the weight came off. i couldn't lose it during times when i was being lazy and eating too much!

some people have slower metabolisms but they can still lose weight. calories in, calories out...it's that simple.
 
some people have slower metabolisms but they can still lose weight. calories in, calories out...it's that simple.
Click to expand...

I agree that this is the core of the issue.
 
It's really not difficult to lose weight. Burn more calories than you take in, correct? I think it's a matter of what the person who has a goal of weight loss wants more: to actually lose the weight, or to have the high-calorie foods and the sedentary lifestyle. From my observations, the thought process seems to be along the lines of, " Sure, I want to lose weight, but I'd much prefer to watch television and eat junk food".
 
I am an emotional eater. I'm not overweight by any means, but American Female Beauty Standards would say I'm a little chunky. I eat when I'm bored, upset, stressed out, angry... it just helps... the taste of the food is so good it takes my mind off things I guess.

Cooking is kind of theraputic, and since I'm good at it, it always helps my self esteem when I slave over something (occupying time) and turn out with something delicious (meaning I feel better about myself).

Ever since I quit using drugs I have really turned to food. I put on a good 35 pounds in 2-3 months (bringing me up to an ideal weight), and I'm gaining more every month.
 
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