How Your Body Responds When You Start Losing Weight

You’ve finally decided: you’re committing to weight loss. You know you need to drop the pounds to improve your health and quality of life.

But how is your body going to respond once the weight loss begins? Will the pounds come off easily? Will your body fight to hold onto the weight? What about a couple months down the road?

At Phillips Family Medical in DeSoto, Texas, Pamela Phillips, Ph.D., FNP-C, and our team specialize in walking with patients through weight loss. When you join our weight loss management program, we’ll guide you each step of the weight with a combination of diet, exercise, and medicine if necessary.

Understanding how your body responds when you start losing weight is key to helping you stay motivated and setting realistic expectations.

The initial phase

When you begin your weight loss program with diet and exercise, you’ll likely see immediate results. Most of this rapid weight loss is due to losing water weight rather than fat. As your calorie intake decreases, your body will begin to use more of its stored glycogen (carbohydrates), which results in a loss of water.

You’ll also notice a decrease in bloating and an increase in energy levels. Your clothes will begin fitting better and you’ll notice changes in the size and shape of various areas of your body.

Metabolic adjustments

After the first few weeks of weight loss, your metabolism begins to slow down. This is a natural survival mechanism called metabolic adaptation, designed to help your body conserve energy during times when it senses resources are scarce (such as limited calorie intake).

Because your resting metabolic rate has decreased, your body burns fewer calories, which means you’ll likely hit a weight loss plateau. Sticking with your weight loss plan consistently will help you push through this plateau. This is why it’s important to get help in building a plan that works well with your lifestyle and preferences.

Hormonal changes

Weight loss will also trigger hormonal changes in your body. Leptin, a hormone that tells you when you’re full, will decrease, while ghrelin, a hormone that signals hunger, increases. These shifts can make you feel hungrier and less full after meals, which is part of why weight loss can be so challenging.

Again, sticking with your weight loss plan will help you push through these difficulties.

Overall effects

Losing weight brings benefits beyond just a lower number on the scale. 

Your heart will become more efficient, your blood pressure will be lower, your energy levels will be higher, your sleep will be better, and your mood will be improved. Your risk of diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and even some cancers will decrease, and your mobility, sex drive, and self-esteem will increase.

In short, losing weight is a battle worth fighting. When you’re ready to begin, our caring team at Phillips Family Medical will be waiting to give you solutions that go beyond quick fixes to sustainable strategies that work for your lifestyle. To get started, call our office at 972-861-1151 or use online booking to schedule an appointment today.