4 reasons 61.7% of people in the UK are FAT and 4 things you can do about it!

With obesity numbers on the increase, I wanted to start by outlining what it is that's causing this and how people can go about making the necessary changes to release those unwanted pounds!

I've tried EVERYTHING and NOTHING works! You only have to type in diet into google and you will find a whole range of different diets, the problem is people look for quick fixes and not something that is sustainable long term. A lot of Yo-Yo diets encourage you too few calories such as the Cambridge diet, a shockingly low 600 calories per day!! Why is this bad? When the calories are drastically cut, your body starts to metabolise muscle as fuel, in doing so you are slowing down your Basel Metabolic Rate (BMR).

SOLUTION: First of all we need to work out your BMR, you can do this with a simple calculator: https://www.calculator.net/calorie-calculator.html to release 1 lbs of body fat per week, you need to be 500 calories per day under your BMR (3500 calories per week). To release 2 lbs of body fat per week, you need to be 1000 calories per day under your BMR (7000 calories per week).

STRESSED OUT lifestyle! Did you know that 46% of people struggle to sleep at night due to stress? Also, did you know you are much more likely to have a heart attack on a Monday morning than any other time? Stress causes our bodies to release cortisol, unfortunately, cortisol limits our bodies ability to burn fat especially the visceral fat (the dangerous fats surrounding our organs).

SOLUTION: Naturally you want to find why to mentally balance a stressful lifestyle by introducing something calming. Things like meditation, yoga or creating a calm space for writing a journal. Effectively make time to do something you love, you can't be stressed whilst smiling, try it! There is also something amazing called Adaptogens that you can get from our wonderful planet. Adaptogens are a unique group of herbal ingredients used to improve the health of your adrenal system, the system that's in charge of managing your body's hormonal response to stress. Our company offers this in a tonic you drink each morning called Ionix Supreme, to find out more check out https://teambryce.isagenix.com/products/individual/ionix-supreme This amazing product will have you feeling stress-free in no time!

Lack of TIME! How many times do you say "I wish there was more hours in the day?" With more technology comes the 'work from anywhere, anytime, any device mentality'. The lines between work and downtime are blurring, creating less time to workout and creating less time to prepare healthy wholefoods. We settle for grabbing a fancy coffee and sugary snacks to start our rushed day. Then lunch time a sandwich or skipping meals due to that meeting filling your calendar. Sound familar? You are not alone.

SOLUTION: This bit requires a level of discipline. Try setting your alarm clock 30 minutes earlier and have your kit ready jump into. Let's lace up them trainers and depending on your preference, go for a paced walk, jog, cycle or do some weight training if you have access to them at home. Remember, start small and build it up over time. Before you know it, you will have an extra hour in your day and be feeling great by starting out with a workout to lift those feel good endorphins. The next part is creating the time to fuel your body with the right nutrition. You can either have prep days, I generally do this Sunday and Wednesday, cook in bulk and lay out all my meals for the next 3 days in Tupperware. Not a fan of food prep, we have another solution. We've designed a 30-day fat burning system that incorporates 2 of your meals a day along with an intermittent fasting. To learn more this check out: https://teambryce.isagenix.com/en-gb/products/pak/30-day-system we simply make nutrition simple and convenient for those leading a busy lifestyle.

You're not SLEEPING ENOUGH! Sleep = Repair. When your body gets enough rest, it's able to perform at it's best.

SOLUTION: Other than coming back to my earlier point about stress, we need to limit the amount of caffeine later on in the day. I tend to stop drinking caffeine after 1 pm to ensure a restful night sleep. Calamine tea is also a great way to send you off into a calming sleep. Don't look at your smartphone or tablet before bed, this can interfere with our day and night body clock, read a book or do some gratitude writing by asking yourself "What am I grateful for today?".

Although there are many other contributing factors, I just thought I'd share a few common themes I'm seeing with my clients and what's helping them make new long lasting healthy habits.

Thank you for taking the time out to read my first ever LinkedIn article. I intend to write more to help people across the world get healthy and ultimately feel body confident. If you found this article useful, please share it with your audience and give it a like.

To your success,

Mark Bryce - Body Transformation Coach