Fat loss & chronic fatigue/pain
Oct 11, 2024
If you have gained body fat since experiencing health struggles...you are not alone. This is very common due to the big change in lifestyle.
Reduced physical activity, emotional dis-regulation, food being a sole comfort or coping mechanism, lack of energy for cooking/shopping...can all play a role.
Chronic Fatigue can result in gaining body fat, but equally gaining excessive body fat can increase fatigue. So you can become in a chicken & egg cycle.
You may also be finding this increases challenges around body image & self confidence.
So ... what to do? Below I have share some tips to get started with loosing body fat when experiencing CF/CFS/CP.
Please note, this doesn't substitute for personal guidance.
In order to loose body fat & protect your energy/health...you need to take a health first approach. This means:
- No FAD diets.
- No excessive restriction.
- No extreem calories deficits.
- No excessive exercising to "burn fat" (it doesn't work like that)
- No self punishment
Your body needs food for energy. So just eating less wont work. You may need to change what you eat & consume less calories overall BUT your body still needs all its nutrients & enjoyment of food.
You will need to be in a calorie deficit (consume less calories than you expend), however aim for slow & steady fat loss rather than quick (this is how you get lasting results)
Here are some tips to get started:
- Focus on eating the rainbow with each meal, lots of fruits and veggies.
- Make sure to have a protein serving with each meal. This supports satiety & reduces muscle wastage.
- Regular meal times, this will help you to establish some routine & avoid excessive hunger.
- Hydrate!
How you approach fat loss & if it is even a good option for you right now will depend on your situation. So while these tips are here to help, getting guidance from a qualified nutritionist is the best option.
As a qualified nutritionist specialising in helping people with chronic fatigue or pain, this is exactly what I do. Feel free to fill out an application form if you are ready for change!