“Begin viewing food as medicine and learn to harness the power of women’s intuition; listening to the body, focusing on organic whole foods and eating quality protein which reduces hunger and cravings.”
“Why Weight Loss for Women is Different Than Men”
Is it true? Do women really lose weight differently than men? One primary way women vary from men lies in their physiology. A statistically undeniable truth is that women have less muscle mass than men. Muscle mass increases how many calories are burned at rest because they require more energy. Therefore, before men even set out to lose weight, resistance train, or monitor their nutrition, they are dealt a favorable hand. Not only do men naturally have more muscle mass, but they typically have more testosterone which results in more muscle mass gained as a response to resistance training.
Women, on the other hand, have more body fat. Women have about six to eleven percent more than men according to the University of New South Whales. This additional body fat is thought to be from an evolutionary adaption to benefit women while they’re pregnant. During the actual pregnancy, women are also likely to add additional fat and can have complications through menopause and perhaps Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition characterized by a hormonal imbalance that makes weight loss more difficult and causes menstrual irregularity. Because of these differences, women often lose weight slower. This is why it is important for them to remain patient, consistent, and full of self-love throughout their process.
Women may be reading this and saying to themselves, “Bummer! It’s not fair!” But, not to fear, below will be 3 ways you can achieve your weight loss goals:
1. Resistance Train. Men may have more muscle mass naturally and respond to weight training differently, but women can still add lean muscle mass to their bodies through resistance training. In doing so, they can burn upwards of 40 additional calories per day, per pound of lean muscle mass gained! It’s also not a problem that women don’t have as much testosterone as men. It is the very thing that ensures they won’t get too bulky because of resistance training.
2. Balance Hormones. Many women don’t think about turning to food as a remedy for hormonal issues that often lead to weight gain. Often, it is thought that medication is the only solution. However, it is diet that is integral to hormone health, especially by regulating gut health, which pharmaceutical drugs often disturb. Begin viewing food as medicine and learn to harness the power of women’s intuition; listening to the body, focusing on organic whole foods and eating quality protein which reduces hunger and cravings.
3. Do Nothing Properly. High levels of stress can lead to chronically elevated cortisol, a stress hormone. When cortisol is high, cravings for carbohydrates are increased because the body intuitively knows carbohydrates combat cortisol. But, when carbohydrates are eaten, insulin is spiked. When excess insulin and cortisol are released together, they create lipoprotein lipase (LPL) which is a fat storing enzyme. The more of this enzyme women have, the more belly fat is stored. So, although it is tempting to give in to the fast pace of our society and believe the only way to lose weight is by doing, often it is doing nothing properly that facilitates weight loss. Consider things such as meditation, reducing caffeine, walks, quality sleep and unbound play.
—Drew
