Q I'm a woman in my 50s. Every time I diet I lose strength and the weight comes right back. They say I must make sure to get protein—why is that?
A Protein is key to preventing the yo-yo because it protects muscle and keeps your basal metabolic rate up. When protein is lacking, muscle comes off first, metabolism drops, and you easily regain after losing weight.
Detailed Answer
When protein is lacking during a diet, the body draws the missing energy from muscle. As muscle decreases, basal metabolic rate falls, leaving you without strength, and after the weight loss ends you gain weight from even a tiny bit more food. Muscle is especially easy to lose as you age, so getting enough protein at every meal from lean meat, fish, tofu, eggs, beans and the like is the key to preventing the yo-yo.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
At Dongjedang, we see a state where muscle and vitality have dropped together through repeated dieting as one where the root of metabolism has weakened. Our goal is to clear the excess while restoring the strength of muscle and circulation, returning you to a body that has energy and no longer gains weight easily.
Related FAQs
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Q
I'm a housewife in my 50s and every time I diet the yo-yo comes, so I've lost confidence. Is losing weight without the yo-yo really possible even at my age?
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