In addition, when you go on a “diet” it implies a temporary state, and then inevitably, when you stop your “diet” you gain all the weight back that you lost. This is because you trained your body to get by on a smaller amount of calories, so when you increase the calories, you gain weight. An effective weight-loss plan needs to be designed around the quality of the food, the nutrient density, and the avoidance of processed and sugary foods. (But more about the ideal diet later!) Emily is perimenopausal, and that can make weight loss difficult, but that wasn’t the end of her story. Five years ago, her husband was in a terrible accident and had a traumatic brain injury. He could no longer work. Overnight, she became the sole breadwinner and her husband’s primary caregiver, dealing with crushing medical bills. They had two young children, and Emily’s commute was well over 90 minutes every day—each way. She was in bed for seven hours of sleep a night, but it was broken up by the various needs of her husband and kids. Oh, and did I mention that she was sleeping in the living room on a cot? Her meals were spotty; she often returned home long after dinner was done and was living on salads that she got at work, which was often her only meal of the day. Her kids, not surprisingly, had issues in school and were particularly needy. Exercise? Forget about it. Meditation? No way. Rest and relaxation? Not a chance. Weekends were spent getting her life together so she could start this cycle over again every Monday. The problem is that these stress responses were designed for short-term stressors, like running from a lion. They were never meant to be chronic or long-lasting, and when the stressors become chronic, this insulin resistance leads to deposition of fat in our abdomen. This is called “angry fat” because it’s more inflammatory and irritates the rest of your system. It’s also harder to lose than other weight. Because your adrenals are on alert for needing to run from a lion, you begin to desperately hold on to every calorie your body gets. Another great thing to do is to start meditating. Don’t worry about being an expert; just sit still and breathe. Make your exhales longer than your inhales; this activates your parasympathetic nervous system, which is all about rest, relaxation, digestion, restoration. And finally, slowly and methodically work on resolving the underlying causes of your stress one at a time. It takes some dedication and patience, but it is entirely possible to heal the adrenals and lose those pesky extra pounds! Through her struggles with mold and metal toxicity, Celiac disease, and a variety of other health issues, Trubow has developed a deep sense of compassion for what her patients are facing. When she’s not helping patients in her practice (5 Journeys) you can find Trubow alongside her husband and their four kids, creating a beautiful ecosystem in our yard that provides nourishment to both our body and soul. She also co-authored the book Dirty Girl: Ditch the Toxins, Look Great, and Feel Freaking Amazing!
