The tip for losing weight (and also keeping it up)
Losing weight. For some a necessity, for others a desire. And for some, it just seems impossible. Of course, there is always a “quick fix,” such as the popular drug Ozempic – a drug that drastically suppresses your sense of hunger. But do you really want to depend on a substance based on the venom of a desert lizard? Exactly. That’s why in this blog we share what’s really going on in your body and what you can do yourself – without crazy drugs – to lose weight healthily and permanently.
Why counting calories usually doesn't work
It sounds logical: eating less = fewer pounds. But the human body works more complex than that. As soon as you start eating less, your metabolism switches to “survival mode. You burn less and actually start retaining fat reserves. The whole system – controlled by your liver and digestion – is like an oil tanker: not readily adjustable.
So starving yourself is counterproductive. As soon as you eat “normally” again, the pounds come back – often with interest. Time to take a different approach.
Why your body stores fat
Our bodies are designed to survive. In ancient times, periods of scarcity were the norm. In the winter, people lost weight, and in the summer and fall they ate again. So our DNA is programmed to store fat for hard times. Only … those hard times no longer exist today. We live in abundance. And we exercise too little.
Add to that:
- Ultra-processed foods (often poor in nutrients)
- Pesticides, environmental contaminants in meat/fish/cereal
- Added sugars and vegetable oils that drive inflammation
… and you understand why losing weight is a struggle for many.
Fat as firewater for your immune system
Did you know that fat is a protective mechanism? Your body stores toxins – from poorly digested food – in fat cells to limit damage. Fat cells ‘extinguish’, as it were, the inflammations that result. Consequence: your body would rather not just let go of that fat. First it has to come clean.
👉 Important: losing weight and detoxing go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other.
Emotion eating and mindset
Emotions play a big role. Boredom, stress or feeling like crap? Chances are you’re more likely to reach for a bar of chocolate than a cucumber. Your unconscious controls your eating behavior – and it rarely leads to healthy choices.
Structure helps. Create a rhythm that supports you rather than frustrates you. Start with the basics.
The best tip for losing weight: eat three times a day with five hours in between
Sounds simple. And it is.
Eat three meals a day, with at least five hours in between when you don’t eat anything. This way you give your body rest to digest, calm inflammation and turn on your fat burning.
You can also occasionally switch to two meals a day – as long as you keep that five-hour gap between meals.
Concrete daily rhythm
- Breakfast: between 7:00 – 7:30 a.m.
- Lunch: between 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
- Dinner: around 6 p.m. (and after 7:30 p.m. don’t eat anything)
Craving in between meals? Take a few grains of coarse (tidal) sea salt on your tongue and drink a large glass of water. That suppresses the feeling of hunger, caused by the hormone ghrelin. Not helping? Repeat and add a little exercise. Going up the stairs three times or doing ten pushups works wonders.
Why does this work so well?
Every time you eat, you activate your immune system. Your body has to digest food while simultaneously rendering bacteria harmless. That requires a lot of energy. Snacks throw oil on the fire again and again. No rest = no optimal combustion.
That five hours of rest is sacred. It gives your organs – such as your liver, pancreas and intestines – time to do their job and clean up. If you don’t do this, crap will be left behind. And where does it end up? Right: in your fat cells.
100 days: that's how long your body needs
Maintain this rhythm for at least 100 days. Why? Because your red blood cells completely renew themselves every 100 days. In that time, your body really learns to eat differently, to function differently.
👉 You may let yourself “go wild” 1 day a week. A pizza, fries or dessert? No problem – as long as you stick to the schedule on the other days. That leeway makes it easier to stick with it.
So what exactly is healthy eating?
We’ll go into that in more detail in a future blog. But for now:
- Eat pure and unprocessed
- Choose fresh ingredients, as little as possible from packets or plastic
- Cook by yourself, fry on low heat in ghee
- Raw vegetables prefer summer, not winter
Finally, variety & fun
Change regularly. Do you drink herbal tea every day? Alternate with water. Do you eat meat by default? Opt for fish or vegetarian. Variety keeps your body awake and flexible.
And remember: eating is emotion. Eat with attention, enjoy your meal, eat together. Laughter at the table really does digest better.
Note: This approach won’t work if you’re sitting still, hanging out bored on the couch, or getting frustrated with “not being allowed. Move, live, and give your body time to reset.
You can do this. 100 days. Not for the pounds, but for yourself.
