Jan 27, 2022
Dr. Bindiya breaks down the impact of the hormone leptin and why so many people struggle with a weight loss plateau that they can’t breakthrough. Learn how dieting for too long can actually prevent you from losing weight, why the counterintuitive solution may be to eat more, why leptin might be the reason you’re always craving food and stressed out all the time, and what you can do to reset your metabolism.
- [0:20] Leptin is a largely unknown hormone but one of which everyone should be aware. Leptin is responsible for telling your brain that you have enough fat stored to fuel your body for calories at a normal rate. When leptin levels are high, that’s when you’re prone to food cravings, gaining weight, anxiety, and more.
- [3:00] We have been told for years that we should be snacking between meals, but when we do that it increases our insulin and blood sugar levels without much benefit. You should typically eat every 4 to 6 hours, and if your leptin resistance is off you need to reset your metabolism.
- [5:20] Leptin doesn’t impact everyone the same. It’s important to identify what is optimal for you and how your leptin levels are affecting your health goals.
- [6:45] Everybody eventually hits a weight loss plateau. Constant diets with rapid weight loss or weight gain mess up your metabolism. When you start restricting your calories your body can go into starvation mode and this can result in a pause in weight loss, even if you’re eating the same foods as before.
- [9:45] The majority of Dr. Bindiya’s patients have hit this weight loss plateau at some point, and when that happens they usually also experience constant fatigue and low energy. Tracking leptin levels is the first step to resetting their metabolism.
- [11:30] One of the first things Dr. Bindiya recommends is for her patients to eat more to shock their bodies out of starvation mode.
- [12:45] If you are leptin resistant, you have probably been in a starvation state for a long time and your thyroid may be suffering, but this can often be missed in clinical tests.
- [15:30] As we get older, leptin resistance becomes more of an issue. We have to optimize our lifestyle to help with the genetics with which we are born.
- [19:05] Intermittent fasting is a powerful weight loss strategy, but it can go too far and trigger the body’s starvation response. It’s counterintuitive, but we need to eat enough during the eating window to reset our metabolism.
- [22:30] Dr. Bindiya works with patients by identifying what is happening with their bodies when they hit a plateau. She looks at their hormones, stress levels, and diet history. If they’ve been doing intermittent fasting for a while, the answer may be to ease up a bit, especially if they are stressed more than usual.
- [26:15] When snacking, people tend to eat more sugar, carbs, and fruit. We want to reduce our fruit consumption because it negatively impacts leptin and congests the liver. Simply eliminating fruit can have a big impact.
- [27:10] Stress management is an important aspect of treatment. If you’re not getting quality sleep, figuring that part out is crucial. If you’ve been exercising too often or too intensely, you may have to switch it up and take it a bit easier.
- [29:30] In order to overcome a plateau faster, supplements can be very helpful. Probiotics are important for establishing gut health, as well as supplements that support your liver and blood sugar.
- [33:15] Practicing daily gratitude is an important habit for Dr. Bindiya that has transformed her life. She starts every day with reflecting on something for which she is grateful.
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Always seek the advice of your own physician or qualified health professional before starting any treatment or plans. Information found here and results are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional and are not intended as medical advice.