Holistic weight reduction - Part15 - The pattens of Adipose tissue weight reduction

A discussion of the time course or pattern of weight reduction is appropriate at this stage because often the expectations of those who are on such a program are different from what happens in reality. Most individuals expect a steady straight-line decline in their weight within days of starting a program. As already pointed out, this is not what happens, except when drugs such as diuretics, thyroid hormones or appetite suppressants are used. Those who appreciate the principles of holistic weight reduction will recognize that the promises of dramatic weight reduction such as seen in advertisements for weight reduction pills and dietary supplement commercials are unlikely to be met in the long run and cannot significantly reduce adipose tissue mass without exposing the body and its vital organs to the risks of serious side effects.

During the first three weeks of a holistic weight reduction program as indicated in this article no significant total body weight loss may be noted on a weighing scale, even though a daily negative balance of 600 calories between caloric intake and energy expenditure was carefully maintained. As already indicated, this is due to the retention of water produced during the metabolism of adipose tissue to meet the daily caloric deficit. At the end of the three week period or the menstrual cycle in the case of women in their reproductive years, the calculated reduction in adipose tissue mass would have resulted and will become obvious. The longer water retention capabilities of some drugs such as replacement hormone therapy, prednisone and some vasodilators used for treatment of high blood pressure may also mask the weight reduction that was achieved.

As time progresses and the weight reduction program is maintained meticulously, the fall in adipose tissue weight becomes more noticeable, not only when the weight is measured on a scale, but by a reduction in the abdominal girth, initially at the lower abdominal level and later even in other locations where the accumulation of fat may have been previously less obvious. However, this exciting stage of rapid and predictable weight loss does not last for an extremely long period.

About three months after the beginning of the diet, the body weight suddenly seems to hit a plateau and even extremely scrupulous continuation of the diet seems to become ineffective in producing further weight loss. This is due to a physiological effect, which is related to the body’s ability to reduce its basal metabolic rate (BMR) and thereby the energy expenditure such that the previously created daily caloric deficit is no longer as large as it was before this down regulation of BMR occurred.

To continue to maintain the calculated weight loss, one now has to increase energy expenditure to a greater level. A recalculation of the average daily energy expenditure may require to be undertaken to accurately document the degree to which the BMR has gone down. If this is too tedious a procedure, often increasing physical exercise by another 100-200 calories daily will induce further reduction of adipose tissue weight.

Another plateau in the weight reduction curve occurs when the body approaches its ideal weight and may even be associated with an increase in ‘hunger’. This is due to the fact that with significant reductions in weight, the body is now less well insulated and requires more calories to maintain its core temperature at 98.60 F. This need may be offset by the decreased demand for energy by the thinner body. Calculations of energy requirements may become less easy at this stage. Ambient temperature also may cause fluctuations in the demands of the body for energy intake with high summer temperatures reducing heat loss from the body and low winter temperatures raising the need for increased energy and for greater intake of food. Inactivity during either of the warm or cool season may also significantly affect the extent of physical exercise undertaken and cause fluctuations in energy expenditure as reasons for less than expected loss in adipose tissue mass.

Once the ideal weight is attained, the need to be on a reducing diet disappears and energy intake must be rebalanced with energy expenditure. The principles of good nutrition and balancing of energy intake with energy expenditure must be allowed to remain as essential principles of maintaining the ideal weight and good health for the rest of life. This permanent commitment is essential for the prevention of increase in weight and a return to the obese state of the body.

All who have succeeded in reducing adipose tissue mass also must be on the look out for early signs of those tendencies within their personality make-up that allow for depression, passivity and indolence to replace the better habits of daily living that have been acquired while on a weight reduction program.

About the Author : Abe Kurien MD, is a proponent of holistic medicine. He writes profusely on subjects of Weight reduction. His enlightening articles can be found on the smatix weight reduction section : Health and Nutrition Resources