Our bodies are made of cells. Muscle cells make up muscles, brain cells make up our brain, and fat cells (known as adipocytes) make up fat – and without ABNORMAL fat cells, unwanted weight gain cannot occur!
Controlling our fat cells is critical to staying trim and fit. The fat cell is the battleground for unwanted weight gain.
And to understand successful weight loss, we must understand fat cells and how they cause weight gain:
Weight Gain Phase #1:
First, fat cells grow bigger…
We are born with a certain number of fat cells. In times of “food plenty”, fat cells store extra calories for future hard times. Later, if needed, they will release stored fat calories to use as fuel.
The ability of fat cells to store excess calories as fat is based on their ability to expand like a balloon. Depending on how much fat is available for the fat cell, its size will change.
This is a microscopic view of fat cells. Fat cells are extremely small. 5 cells will fit on the head of a pin!
Fat cells can vary in size from 20% full of fat (small and starving!) to 100% full (plump and stuffed!). Normal, healthy fat cells stay filled to around 2/3 of capacity.
Weight gain occurs when we overeat and fat cells increase from 2/3 full towards 100% full. But our original 30 billion fat cells, that normally contain a total of 30 lbs of body fat, can only hold an extra 15 lbs or so.
So once we gain more than 15 lbs, Weight Gain Phase #2 MUST occur!
Weight Gain Phase #2:
Once we gain more than 15 lbs, fat cells multiply…
Our 30 billion fat cells can multiply and become more than 160 billion fat cells. Fat cells multiply if we gain more than ~15 lbs after age 21.
Note: It is ideal to limit weight gain throughout life to prevent our fat cells from multiplying. For most people, that is not reality.
In summary, fat cells initially expand (increase in size) to add 15 lbs of extra body fat. After 15 lbs of weight gain, fat cells multiply. Through multiplication, fat cells can potentially store an unlimited amount of extra body fat!
As seen in the diagram above, if you have gained more than 15 lbs, you have increased the number of fat cells, a true medical problem. This makes sustained weight loss VERY difficult.
Fat cells act as if their job is to be full of fat constantly, so they put up a fight every time you lose weight. We can help!
If you have struggled with chronic, ongoing weight gain, you understand the challenge of taming the fat cell! We are here to help. Call or go online to schedule a Free Consultation to learn more about getting your weight and health under control.
Weight Loss & Regain Cycle
Once present, fat cells are always present! When we lose weight, fat cells do get smaller, which is great, but they don’t die or disappear. They are alive and active and have an agenda to get you gaining your lost weight back!
Once fat cells multiply, they are part of our body. These new fat cells explain why long term weight loss is so hard.
Fat cells regulate our appetite and metabolism with 2 important hormones.
1. Leptin is a “good” hormone, lowering appetite and boosting metabolism. But when we lose weight, leptin decreases, so our metabolism slows down and our appetite increases. This explains why dieters get tired and hungry!
2. Ghrelin is the “gremlin” of dieters. Ghrelin makes the stomach growl, making us hungry. Ghrelin increases up to 30% after losing 30 lbs of weight. That’s enough to make you feel VERY HUNGRY after losing weight!
These 2 hormones are more powerful than willpower, more powerful than self-control, and a true “dieter’s nightmare”! These hormones must be managed long term for weight loss and weight maintenance.
Being overweight is a true medical problem, requiring medical monitoring, medical support, powerful nutritional strategies, and, for many, custom designed medication plans to manage appetite and metabolism!
Don’t use unhealthy fad weight loss diets or medications that cause loss of muscle and bone, damaging long term health. There is never a more important time to consume excellent nutrition than during weight loss. Let us guide you! Have your weight loss monitored so you KNOW exactly what you are losing, fat or muscle! And make sure it’s fat loss!
Then, use powerful, medically proven weight maintenance strategies, to KEEP the fat cells controlled long term. Remember, leptin and ghrelin are powerful, so powerful strategies are required! Your appetite tendencies, your metabolism, and your nutritional needs are unique to you. Your personal plan should be designed just for you and your specific needs!
Let us help you determine what nutritional and medication options are best for you!
SUMMARY:
We have assisted many thousands of individuals in successfully controlling their weight long term. You can also experience success. You have the motivation necessary or you would not be reading this!
Your appetite and metabolism MUST be managed with powerful, science-based, medically sound approaches for lasting weight loss. There is no other way. Your internal appetite and metabolism tendencies will control your weight long term, unless they are successfully controlled.
If you are overweight, we can help! Let our caring team of professionals, experienced with over 30,000 patients, go to work for you. Achieving a healthy weight is mandatory for Optimum Health, which is always worth the effort.
