I'm Struggling with 30 Kilograms Overweight and Having Difficulty with Matchmaking: What to Do?

I am 35 years old, suffering from extreme overweight, about 30 kilograms. I no longer know what to do to lose weight. I am seeking a match, but I struggle with low confidence.

Lately, I've been reading a lot about diets, and there are so many trending ones. Vegan and vegetarian on one side, separating carbs and proteins on the other. The Paleo diet, avoiding carbs altogether and eating lots of meat and fat.

I don't know which diet is best for me. I would be happy to receive tips and advice on how I can lose weight quickly.

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Hello,

First of all, you are right; there are so many new diets in fashion. Therefore, it's crucial for me to set things straight.

I prefer to focus on Maimonides, and I'll describe the approach he used with the King of Egypt, who suffered from obesity. His treatment was very effective, and the nutritional menu he offered was balanced.

Weight loss is a complex issue and is sometimes not so simple.

One reason for obesity is genetics, which we inherit from our parents. A person whose parents are overweight may struggle with weight their entire life.

The second reason is how we view food: if someone eats everything in sight because they crave certain things, it's a problem. Craving for food is a negative trait like any desire, and one must learn how to control it. Many techniques exist, such as CBT, where through behavioral thinking changes, one can easily avoid things they really like. By deeply understanding the contribution of food to the body (or the harm), it's easy to reject unnecessary foods.

Another well-known reason is a malfunctioning thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism, TSH, affects the body's metabolism, making it slower. It's important also to check thyroid hormones T3 and T4, which influence the body's metabolic rate. Deficiency of B12, responsible for breaking down food into available energy sources, also leads to obesity.

(Illustrative photo: shutterstock)

The fourth reason is poor nutrition consisting of a small number of meals. For example, someone who barely eats during the day and then comes home and consumes a very large amount of food. This will overload the stomach, increase insulin levels, and result in weight gain. Therefore, it's important to eat something small every few hours to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

The fifth reason: lack of physical activity. As we know, aerobic (running, walking, swimming) or anaerobic (weights) exercise increases the body's metabolic rate, so those who persist will lose weight, and results come quickly.

So far, I've given you background on the reasons for obesity—so you can check what the source of the obesity is for you—and I've listed several solutions that can help you. Additionally, I suggest adopting two tips from Maimonides that he gave the King of Egypt: daily physical activity (before breakfast) and a balanced diet that doesn't fully satiate. Example menu: two slices of spelt bread (sourdough, considered wheat in Maimonides' time) with labneh or yogurt with oats. Snack: a green apple and a few almonds. Lunch: chicken or fish (protein serving) and steamed vegetables. Snack: another apple and some walnuts. Dinner (the lightest meal according to Maimonides): two eggs, two slices of spelt bread.

Of course, nutrition varies from person to person, so it's necessary to tailor nutrition personally. Maimonides treated everyone differently and never recommended a uniform menu for everyone.

Dror Akavi, Naturopath and Nutritionist's email: drorokavi@hotmail.com