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Women & Weight Loss: Why the Difference?

With Ernest Quin of Physician Directed Hy-Tch Weight Loss

So, why do men seem to keep winning on the reality television show, “The Biggest Loser?” Well, it is not simply coincidence. In fact, men generally have an easier time losing weight than women because of their physical makeup and because of some of their dietary preferences.

It is a well-known fact that the more muscle you have, the more fat you will burn. Your metabolism will be higher, and your body will process the calories you consume much more quickly. Men tend to have a physical makeup that contains more muscle tissue than women; however, women can be very successful at losing weight using some of the same approaches as men.

According to Ernest Quin of Physician Directed Hy-Tech Weight Loss, most diets don’t work for men or women because they’re temporary. “After a person loses the weight, providing they stick to the diet, they gain the weight back because they return to their old eating habits. Weight loss programs that use meal replacements have the same problem. Once they stop purchasing the pre-packaged meals (which can get expensive), they gain the weight back,” says Quin.

Successful weight loss is truly about changing your lifestyle. There are many fad diets out there that may help you lose 2-15 pounds quickly, but many people quickly regain that weight once they stop the diet. Why does this happen? It happens because people return to their eating habits (which were generally poor) after they discontinue the diet.

Some points to consider when trying a true weight loss program is to consider how you are going to maintain your new body once you are finished with the program. If you simply have replaced your meals with meals from a program, but didn’t learn what the calorie intake and nutritional value of the meals were, you have not learned the skills to change your lifestyle when you return.

Keep in mind, exercise is important. However, if you are taking in 5000 calories a day, but only burning a fraction of those through exercise, then you are not going to lose or maintain any weight loss.

“A successful program measures a persons metabolism (which can be different from one person to the next) in order to customize a nutritional weight loss program for that individual,” says Quin.

Other considerations in choosing the right weight loss program for you:

• Program should have no meal replacement

• Program should not be a “one size fits all” weight loss program

• Program should strive toward lifestyle change for permanent weight loss

Men tend to carry their weight in different areas than women. For example, men tend to gain weight in the belly area, where women tend to put weight on in their lower body such as legs, buttocks and abdomen. No matter where your problem areas are, the process if very similar: exercise regularly, and eat properly.

A true commitment is necessary to losing and maintaining weight regardless of your program. Too many people begin a program, only to slowly fade off the regimen and never fully completing the lifestyle change necessary. This is where you see the Yo Yo dieter.

So, when you sit down and start looking at your weight loss opportunities, do the research. Take the time to find a program that meets your needs, and has the best possible outcomes for long term maintenance. You will be happy you did so.