Why It Takes Time to Lose Weight

Whenever we start a new health and wellness journey, seeing that ideal number on the scale is a major goal, and we’re often impatient to get there.

While we all know weight loss is a journey that takes time, it can be difficult to remind ourselves why. So here are some science-backed reasons to practise patience and consistency to achieve results.

Our bodies go into "panic mode" when we eat less

We humans have evolved under some tough conditions. Starvation conditions, in fact, where we had to make do with very little food. Easy access to food is relatively new to us. It’s only in the last 100 years that, in the Western world, we’ve experienced anything close to food security.

This means our bodies have been trained over millions of years to hang on to energy stores. And guess what the most versatile stored energy source is? Yep, you guessed it — the fat we deposit around our bodies.

When we eat less, the body takes it as a sign of distress and clings on to our fat. So thoughtful, right?! Our body wants us to survive — sweet, but not always helpful.

What is helpful is that, with consistent effort to reduce what we eat, the body learns to let go (literally!) and starts to use the stored fat. Sweet and helpful after all.

Our guts aren’t happy with us

When our weight has crept up, it usually means our guts haven’t been getting the nutrients they need — and they’re not happy about it.

Just like your mouth tastes food, so too does your gut. In fact, the whole length of your gut likes to "taste" what you’ve eaten, which means we need to feed our whole gut.

Processed foods don’t have all the nutrients your gut is waiting to taste, and most of these foods don’t even make it very far down the gut. The lower part of the gut is super important for sending signals to your brain to say, "Hey! We’re full and satisfied."

These signals — gut hormones like GLP-1 and PYY — get released when we feed our lower guts the right things. Years of eating the wrong foods have made this part of our gut unloved and forgotten, so it’s lost its ability to help us feel full and satisfied.

To get your gut back on track with Elcella, give your body the time. Wait for those gut signals to gradually improve over a few weeks and months. The change will come.

Habits — they’re tough to change (and don’t we know it!)

Even as gut signals get stronger and the effects of Elcella really kick in, changing our daily habits and routines can be hard.

We all have routines around food that have come from our experiences, families, cultures, and more. These patterns have taken a lifetime to develop, so of course, change takes time.

Fun fact: we humans can happily ignore all kinds of internal signals — even when we’re feeling full — because we love routines and comfort. It’s just human nature.

Habits around food can be the hardest to change since food is such an emotional and important part of our lives. The amazing thing is that gut hormones can influence food choices — and listening to your body is a great place to start.

Prioritise your body’s signals and pay less attention to your usual food habits. Consistency is key, so stay strong!

Add in those extra walks and burn those calories

It’s easier than we think to improve our movement and exercise. It might look like walking to the shops instead of catching the bus, walking the kids to school instead of driving, or taking the stairs instead of the lift.

Sometimes we forget that eating less is only one part of the health journey. To lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way, movement is critical — especially if we want to build and retain muscle.

Muscle weighs more than fat, so a gradual decrease in weight is the right way to get healthy. Lose the fat, keep the muscle, and stay strong. Adding just a bit of movement each day does make a difference.

There aren’t any shortcuts, but Elcella supports the journey

The bottom line? Weight loss takes time because our bodies are designed to protect us from starvation. Changing our insides doesn’t happen overnight, and building healthy new routines is a process.

The good news is — with Elcella by your side, the journey gets a little easier. Gut signals are so important when it comes to managing appetite and food choices.

It’s not all in your head — it’s all in your gut. And supporting your gut over weeks and months is one of the best ways to set yourself up for long-term success.

Even more importantly, Elcella is safe, natural, and designed to provide sustained support to help keep your gut healthy — and the weight off.

Start your health journey today — we’re here to support you every step of the way.