Research Participant Question #2 - Body Type & Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

Fellow One Research Participant - Alicia Leonard - BT3 - Why Can't I Lose Weight?

As an early 30-something millennial I have battled with obesity since I was about 11 years old. I have wondered for years why I can’t lose weight? I hit my heaviest weight of 350 pounds when I was 25. Realizing my health was on the line, I focused on the best way to lose weight. My efforts were successful and I lost 125 pounds in less than 2 years. However, since then I have added nearly 40 pounds back and can’t seem to get off the obesity weight gain and loss roller coaster ride. At 5’9″ and 262 pounds I am still fat and there is no way to sugar coat it.

Upon learning about Fellow One Research’s The Four Body Types and, after looking at things more closely, I am confident I am a Body Type Three. My thoracic vertebrae, roughly the T6-T12, and lumbar vertebrae, L1-L5, definitely have undeveloped muscle mass and I guess they are lacking spinal extension – my posture is not great. Some of my other vertebrae may also be underdeveloped. I do not have the Body Type One Classic Arch or Dimples.

Why Can’t I Lose Weight – Diet & Exercise

Truth is, I have never been skinny enough to know whether I have experienced skinny fat or not. All I know is that no matter what I do with my diet or exercise, I can’t lose weight and keep it off and I don’t understand why. I do admit that my diet is not really the best. I try to eat healthy, keeping track of proper amounts of protein, carbs, fats, and calories. But I do eat too much processed and junk food. My omnivore diet is a solid balance of vegetarian and carnivore. I consume plenty of vegetables, fruit, eggs, dark chocolate, healthy oils, and green tea. Yet, I know my diet is at least partly to blame for my weight loss and gain problems.

My cardio exercise is consistent, which I believe helps with things, including my metabolism. I do no less than 30 minutes per day, 7 days per week. I enjoy walking, running, sports, and biking. Although my resistance exercising is not as regular or robust, I do isometric (gravity) exercises 2 times a week for about 30 minutes. I am starting to wonder, in terms of my muscle mass issues with so many thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, if maybe more diligence with resistance weight lifting training would benefit improving my Body Type Three and overall health?

Body Type Three – Why Can’t I Lose Weight

Although I am still relatively young, I do not deal with any back pain issues at the moment. But I need to improve my posture and get to a healthier weight. Now that I have a better sense of my Body Type Three with its underdeveloped vertebrae and muscle mass, along with my less than stellar diet and resistance exercise routine, I am feeling better about things. Can you offer any further insight or advice on why I can’t lose weight and keep it off for good?