Updated: August 23rd 2026
- Losing and re-gaining weight is a vicious cycle many women fall into.
- You can lose weight (and keep it off) without gimmicks, fad diets, or weight loss drugs.
- There are five key areas to address when dealing with weight loss resistance.
- Balance is essential; when one area is out of whack, weight loss can become nearly impossible.
- Systemic balance, eating the right kinds of foods, getting appropriate exercise, managing your emotions, and finding true restorative practices are key factors in sustainable weight loss.
“I’ve lost 100 pounds in the past ten years…unfortunately, it’s been the same 10 pounds, 10 times!” That’s what Lucy said to me recently, with a self-deprecating chuckle. But it really isn’t funny, nor is it uncommon. I wonder how many American girls and women are on a diet on any given day? Weight loss is a billion dollar industry, yet nearly two-thirds of us are overweight, a trend that’s steadily inching upwards along with our waistlines!
Despite the fact that these weight loss efforts rarely work, we’re putting ourselves through hell to shed stubborn pounds – only to regain them when we stop whatever “diet” we’ve chosen. I’ve seen women willing to sacrifice just about anything to lose weight – even their health and well-being. But when I tell women I have a solution for them that doesn’t involve suffering or a magical pill, many say, “Oh, come on, Marcelle, can I really lose weight the natural way?”
The answer, I assure you, is “Yes!” It’s what I’ve built my entire weight loss program around. You can lose weight (and keep it off) naturally without starving yourself, without gimmicks, drugs or fad diets. And you’ll create balance, health, and well-being in your life while you’re at it!
Overcoming weight loss resistance
Weight loss resistance can stem from a number of factors including: hormonal imbalances, adrenal dysfunction, thyroid issues, and neurotransmitter issues. I’ve worked hard on this issue in my 30+ years of clinical experience, I’ve developed a highly effective way to help women unravel the stubborn knot of issues surrounding unwanted excess weight. It’s all in my Drop20 program, but if you aren’t ready to jump on board for that yet, this article will get you started.
There are five essential areas to address: systemic imbalances, raw materials (what you are actually putting in your body), exercise, emotions, and restoration. Each one is a vital part of the weight loss picture.
Weight Loss in One Word: Balance
Think of your body like your home. When everything is running smoothly in my house, I can create delicious meals in a well-organized kitchen; I can entertain and enjoy my guests; I can feel the sunlight beaming through the windows. I feel at peace, yet poised to resolve a crisis if one should arise; and I feel spontaneous and generous. Even my family seems to get along better when the house is in order.
This is also true of our bodies. When all the major systems are in balance, we not only feel good, but our adrenal glands are able to protect us, our hormones relay their messages smoothly, our digestive system can adequately nourish us, and we can efficiently get rid of or “detoxify” the things we don’t need. All of our systems depend on one another and if one is out of balance, the others can suffer, making weight loss a miserable uphill battle.
Discovering if you have a systemic imbalance in your body may be the missing piece to your weight loss puzzle. Whether it’s hormonal imbalance, adrenal dysfunction, neurotransmitter, digestive, inflammatory, or detoxification system imbalance, correcting it is key to natural and lasting weight loss, and to your overall health. Because once your body is restored to its natural balance, excess weight will come off.
If you have tried everything to lose weight, you may have a systemic imbalance blocking you from your best natural weight. Look into targeted phytotherapeutic herbs to bring your body back into balance.
Getting the right raw materials, nutrients your body can put to good use
So many women were raised to think that if they only ate less and exercised more, they could easily lose weight; when this wasn’t the case, they grew more and more frustrated.. I found out the hard way that the calories in/calories out concept just doesn’t work for everyone. When I was just 19, I joined Weight Watchers to lose weight and followed all the rules, counting calories religiously and exercising vigorously, but only lost a half pound! It wasn’t until years later, after learning that I was gluten-sensitive that I was able to solve my personal weight loss puzzle.
No doubt there will always be those who say it all comes down to calories and will-power. But the reality is, if you eat 1,200 calories of junk versus 1,200 calories of balanced nutrition, the messages your body receives are drastically different, no matter how much you exercise. Make that a lifelong pattern and over time, no matter what the Twinkie diet guru says, it’s going to make a huge difference to your wellness and your waistline.
What’s more, you can have the discipline of a saint, but if you are sensitive to a certain food and continue to eat it — whether knowingly or unknowingly — you are perpetuating a whole cascade of negative messaging throughout your body that contributes further to weight gain and illness.
This is just scratching the surface of why relying on restricting calories to lose weight can get you into trouble down the road. Food is a form of information, so the kinds of calories you eat really do matter. Make them worthwhile and eat as well as you can 85% of the time. This leaves room to treat yourself every once in a while.
To make sure you get the right raw materials:
- Strive to eat whole, natural foods. Organic fruits, vegetables, and plant-based proteins like nuts and legumes, are important. Enjoy whole grains in moderation rather than refined flours and sugars, and select high-quality meat and fish — the less processed the better.
- Help your metabolism operate at full capacity with a high-quality multivitamin/mineral complex and a combination of nutrients to specifically support your metabolism and burn fat. This micronutrient and phytonutrient support will help ensure that your cellular pathways are continually supplied to function well each day.
- Drink plenty of filtered spring water, mineral water, or freshly brewed or iced herbal tea or green tea each day, to help flush any built-up “clutter” from your system.
Exercise in any way that feels good to you
Exercise can be as important as supplying your body with the right raw materials in helping weight loss efforts and boosting overall health and longevity. However, there’s no need to knock yourself dead to get results. Long gone are the days when the standard recommendations were joining a gym and doing vigorous aerobic exercise daily.
Now, we know that gentle exercise – any movement, in fact – counts. My two main guidelines are: try to move intentionally four times a week, and do something you love to do!
There are so many ways to exercise — some women I know fold exercise into their daily routines by biking or walking to work or playing with their children, while others prefer to set a specific time aside from their busy lives to exercise. Whether you go dancing with your partner, climb trails with your kids, train at the gym, attend a yoga class, or simply take a walk with your dog, exercise is a wonderful component to natural weight loss and essential for keeping it off.
For those who are already in the habit, consider “burst” training — taking your heart rate way up with increased physical exertion — a few times throughout your workout to get maximum benefits.
Sound nutrition combined with regular physical activity automatically keeps our body weight at a healthy set point: a predetermined body fat ratio within a 10–15-pound range. Your metabolism is designed to vigorously defend your set point by speeding up or slowing down if those thresholds are threatened.
Pay homage to your past and present emotional health
We often subconsciously equate food with love and comfort. That means we turn to the warmth of a hot meal or a lift from something sweet. I’ve seen hundreds of women whose weight loss issues stem back to childhood relationships with food and the family members who served it. These layers run deep, and may very well change the neurochemistry of the brain if unhealthy connections between food and love are reinforced over the years. This issue is so profound that I’ve written several articles about emotional eating, with suggestions to help you move past these blocks.
Support is also an essential piece of the natural weight loss puzzle. When women start a new weight loss plan with a friend, they report far more success than those who try to go it alone. They share recipe ideas, talk about what works and what doesn’t, and find encouragement when they need it. And it helps to know someone is there for you, someone who not only knows how to listen, but also who has the experience and training to help you with your personal weight loss challenges.
Restoration, refill your cup daily!
I’m not talking about a one-time deal – you need to make time for rest and restoration daily! I know that the fast-paced lifestyles women lead these days offer very little down time, but that can set you up for weight gain. And that’s true even for those who love to be constantly on the go! We all need between six and eight hours of sleep every night to heal from the stress of the day. We also need time to rest, relax and practice mindfulness.
Many studies have linked sleep to weight loss (and lack of sleep to weight gain or difficulty losing weight). When we’re overtired, overstressed, and not finding enough time to rest (trust me, I get it!), we are likely to struggle even more due to adrenal fatigue.
I already mentioned adrenal fatigue and dysfunction earlier, as it is one of the most common underlying, systemic issues I see that leads to weight loss resistance.
Healing from adrenal fatigue won’t be instant, but it is definitely worth it if you want to lose weight, have more energy, and feel better in general! One way to start? Dedicate some time for yourself every day to simply relax or practice mindfulness– even if it’s just for 15 minutes.
You don’t have to wait until you lose weight to alter the way you look and feel. Start now by giving away clothing that doesn’t make you feel good. Consider a trip to a hair salon, a restorative massage, or a self-reflection retreat. Find one or two new pieces of clothing – even small items – that make you feel amazing the moment you put them on.
The better you feel, the more likely you are to stick with your natural weight loss plan. Even such small changes can provide the momentum you need to make bigger ones!
Restoration is a very personal thing. What refills your cup may very well drain that of your friend or sister. Make a list of the things that help you feel more rested, relaxed, and at peace in your life, and try to practice at least one thing on your list every day. Naps count!
Come home to your body
Over the years I’ve learned that trying to apply the same equation to every situation usually ends with women feeling badly about themselves. I sincerely believe that if women understand how to support the unique needs of their bodies, there should be no hindrance to naturally maintaining a healthy weight throughout their lives.
I hope you can get off the dieting merry-go-round and embrace my natural solutions to weight loss. Above all, I encourage you to accept yourself for who you are right now, not the woman you once were or the one you hope to be. No matter what the scale says, let yourself be beautiful today!
