06/11/2026
4 Steps to Reversing Weight Loss
Are you having a difficult time gaining and maintaining a healthy weight? Most people, like myself, constantly battle annoying weight gain. I topped out at 248lbs and on June of this year, I was up to 160lbs. For me, this was an easy condition to remedy; no alcohol, grits, hash browns, corn, soy, dairy, peanuts or wheat , and lots of veggies with some beef, fish and eggs, some raw soaked tree nuts, some brown rice, quinoa, flaxseed meal, and chia seeds, and some seasonal fruit. But for a a few people, gaining weight is a serious problem.
1. The number one body system to look at is the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. Most of our uptake of fats, proteins, and sugars takes place here. Our digestive enzyme levels begin to drop off after the age of thirty five. I prefer to address this issue with a combination of diet, supplementation and adequate chewing. Some foods high in digestive enzymes are papaya (papain), pineapple (bromelain), mango (amylase), and local, raw honey (sucrose and protease). Eat these foods twenty minutes before your meals to prepare your body to absorb the foods you are about to eat.
The same goes for digestive enzymes. Take your supplement twenty minutes before your meal. My internal medicine specialist is a big believer in pharmaceutical grade supplements . She custom ordered me a digestive enzyme based on my stools samples and missing pancreatic enzymes. She recommended I look for a functional medicine doctor when she moved to North Carolina and I moved to central Georgia. I recommend the same to you.
Adequate chewing is essential. Our saliva primarily contains amylase, protease, and lipase. When we chew our food well, we manually break up our food to prepare it be converted into chime in our stomach. There is an old saying, " Chew your liquids and drink your solids". So, swirl and swish your water, teas, and coffee around in your mouth long enough for them to acquire a viscous texture. Likewise, chew each bite of food until it becomes a smooth mixture, then swallow.
2. Second, we must remove mucous in order for proper nutrient absorption. The four eliminative body systems are large intestine, kidney, lung, and skin.
The large intestine is the only organ capable of removing mucous whole and unprocessed. Several bowel cleansing aids can be colonics, vitamin C, magnesium, flax seed meal, chia seeds, and a sea salt water flush. Pease do not start any of these measures before consulting with your functional medicine doctor! Never blindly follow the advise of a lay practitioner no matter how well studied they are. Print this article out and take it to your doctor's appointment. Most doctors these days are getting up to date on the importance of bowel cleansing.
The kidneys kick in next by breaking down hard acids and excreting them in urine. Drink enough water, but not too much. Sometimes a sole' or 200 mg vitamin C per 8 ounces water can aid in water absorption.
The lungs are capable of breaking down weak acids and can respirate them through the ears, nose, mouth, and eyes. Deep breathing through gentle walking is enough.
The skin is the largest organ of the body and capable of breaking down hard acids just like the kidneys. It is called the third kidney. The structure of sweat is similar to urine. Dry body brushing is one of the best daily disciplines we can cultivate for ourselves. Look it up on youtube. It is a simple manual process. I walk in the heat on purpose. It makes me sweat! A dry sauna will help, but you miss out on the respiration and free vitamin D.
3. Probiotics are the new buzzword in proactive health. Probiotics are essential for absorption and elimination. They "eat up" mucous that coats the small and large intestine. Probiotics help balance systemic yeast and fungal overgrowth. Your medical doctor will have other prescription choices to assist with this critical issue in pernicious weight loss.
My doctor found an abundance of lactobacillus acidophilus in my gut. Make sure yours includes multi strains of at least a billion organisms. Yogurt will never get you to a therapeutic dose and dairy is a huge no no for malabsorption issues. Phillips Colon Health can be found at any pharmacy. Garden of Life Raw and Primal Defense are great brands. Swap out the brand after each bottle runs out. I love Donna Gates' Body Ecology Diet products. Their Cocobiotic drink is the cure for severe constipation. Adding fermented vegetables is more beneficial that supplements alone.
4. There are other more in depth topics like balancing the autonomic nervous system with six second breathing cycles found in the book, The New Science of Breath, juicing greens for super nutrition, acid alkaline balancing so your acidic body quits canibalizing itself, and last but not least find an integrative, complimentary, functional endocrinologist to fine tune your hormonal system, especially the adrenals.
Become your own best advocate. Educate yourself by reading about your health issues. Understand the principle of individuality and the 80/20 rule. Nothing is going to work for everyone all the time. Stay persistent. You and I are the only ones who can change our lives! I have had people tell me they couldn't eat like I eat. My answer to them is, oh yes you can. Others have said she eats like that because of her allergies. I eat like this because I want a health filled life. Pray earnestly for heavenly help. My desire for you is joy, peace, and health in your quest for health.
Be well,
Rebekah Wright, LMT
Right Touch Massage
