Why It's Not Your Fault. Getting to Your Setpoint.

Have you ever wondered why you can’t seem to lose weight and keep it off? You’ve probably tried more diets that you can count and feel like you know a lot, but for some reason the weight always comes back. What if I told you that a lot of it is actually out of your control?

The setpoint weight theory says that your body has a healthy weight where it naturally wants to be. This is where your body is functioning at its best and where you feel your best. Almost like a fat thermostat, your body is working to keep a certain amount of fat on you. This is a range of up to 10-20 pounds and fluctuations within that range are completely normal and acceptable to your body.

The further you go away from your setpoint, the more your body will work to get you back into your range. This means that your appetite regulation hormones, and fat burning functions will adjust to make sure you get to your back to your setpoint.

Your individual set point is largely a result of genetics. Your current and past lifestyle choices also play a role and your body really does everything it can to keep your weight stable.

Some people are naturally in larger bodies and some people are naturally in smaller bodies, just like some people have big feet and some people have small feet.

So why is this important to know?

Your body working hard to get you within your setpoint is a sign that your body is super smart and is doing everything it can to protect you. Dieting and efforts to lose weight are like alarm bells to your body that food is scarce and it needs to conserve energy.

As a result, your body goes into starvation mode and many mechanisms that are outside of your control kick in to make sure that you don’t starve. This can even result in a higher setpoint to protect you against future weight loss.

This tells us that you actually didn’t fail at your past dieting attempts, and that your body is doing exactly what it’s supposed to be doing.

Isn’t that a relief?

There is so much happening in our body that is outside of our control. This isn’t about having enough willpower!

It’s no surprise that weight loss rarely lasts.

So how do you know where your setpoint is?

I always tell my clients that they know when they’re at their best weight when they are their healthiest and happiest. In reality it doesn’t really have to do with the number and it’s more about how you feel, though a number could provide some concrete and measurable information about what that is for you.

There’s no test or formula to find your setpoint, but you can get there by implementing lifestyle changes that are in support of your health. This means eating in a way that honors your body’s signals, and getting really good and listening to your body. When you do this, your body will naturally settle into that place where it’s healthy and happy. Being at peace with food is a huge part of this!

Without the constant weight fluctuations of yo-yo dieting, your body starts to trust that it won’t starve. Your appetite and fat-burning mechanisms adjust and you no longer have to fight against them.

Getting to a place where you feel at peace with food, free, and healthy requires making small manageable steps in the right direction. It requires the right system and the right mindset to create long lasting behavior change, and this is so individualized! All of our bodies are different and we all have different goals and lifestyles.

If you’re looking for support getting to your setpoint and would like to do that without struggling or fighting against your body and cravings, then let’s chat!

Click here to schedule a time to chat and see how we can get you feeling better today!

xo,

Melissa