I’ve worked with countless clients who have wanted to lose weight but were so over and done with all of the diets and gimmicks that have left them feeling frustrated and confused.

Because shapeshifting your body isn’t always a straight-forward thing. And as we age, it can become even more complex and difficult to figure out on our own.

There are many reasons why women can’t lose weight – reasons that I am personally familiar with and that live far beyond what we’ve been taught could be the cause.

The weight loss world will tell you that you’re just not disciplined enough, or that you haven’t tried hard enough, or followed their protocols perfectly enough. But this mindset, in and of itself, is part of the problem.

If you have to discipline and will power and perfection your way to the results you want, the methodology is flawed. Discipline, will power and perfectionism can only be upheld for a short period of time and will only take you so far before you “fail” or rebel, or give up altogether.

In addition, there can be things going on with your body that make losing weight physiologically impossible.

Things like…

1. Too many processed and ultra-processed foods in your diet – they wreak havoc on your body’s metabolic processes and confuse the body, which can lead to weight gain and a whole host of other issues
2. An underlying health issue that has gone undiagnosed or untreated – these can be insidious, especially if they’ve been happening for a while and you’ve grown accustomed to it and don’t even fully recognize that your body is asking for more support
3. Phase of life hormone shifts – pregnancy, postpartum, breast feeding, perimenopause & menopause – all are instances and times when the body might choose to stubbornly hold on to weight
4. Chronic inflammation from physical, mental and/or emotional stressors – this, along with #1 are happening throughout our culture right now and are both big contributors to our current epidemic of obesity
5. An underlying health issue that is still healing – the body will divert its energy and attention to the places that need the most support, and therefore might hold on to extra weight as a ready source of fuel that can be accessed immediately
6. Lack of safety in your life – weight can be a form of protection from people, circumstances and environments that feel unpredictable, volatile, or unsafe in any way

The thing that very few people are talking about is how extra weight on the body serves a purpose. If it is here, it is here for a reason.

Even if our minds can’t figure out what that reason is, the body knows very well what it is doing and how beautifully that weight is serving whatever it is the body needs it for.

Too often we approach unwanted weight with such disgust, judgment, hatred and force that we don’t even get curious about WHY it is here.

This creates a lack of safety, more inflammation and stress – all of which exacerbate all of the conditions that make it even more difficult for your body to let go of extra weight.

The only way to make losing weight a sustainable journey for you and your body is to work WITH your body instead of against it. You have to learn to listen to and honor your body, and shower it patience, compassion, curiosity, appreciation and LOVE.

When it comes to losing weight and shapeshifting your body – if that is what you wish to do – I invite you to get curious about why the weight is here now, and how it could be beautifully serving both you and your body in ways that might be easy to overlook.

I invite you to approach your body with the upmost compassion and care, and to make changes from this place of unwavering self-love.

From this place of honoring yourself, true and lasting change is possible. From this place of befriending the extra weight that is here now, you can love yourself into the vibrant energy and beautiful body you desire.

From this place, you can live more powerfully into the amazing woman you already are.