Most of us use the common sense approach and opt for controlling our food intake and exercising more in order to effect weight loss. For a certain age group, this most certainly works, but after a while, typically into the forties, we seem to hit a wall or plateau.

Most rightly blame it on their slowing metabolism, but have no idea how to enhance it. Those younger who are experiencing hormonal imbalances also fall in the same boat.
So we can't convert a Toyota into a Ferrari, but we sure can rev up and create a very efficient Toyota engine!

So what's the magic third pillar other than diet and exercise? So to continue on the car analogy, we need to service our car, as sometimes go in for a "complete service with the full works" to get the best out of it. Similarly, there are a few important steps we need to take to get there.

First, we need to do a comprehensive blood test and get a functional medicine expert to understand it. We are not looking for disease patterns, instead looking to identify metabolic challenges that show up as nutrient highs and lows.
This can help identify what type of foods we need more, what type of nutrients (vitamins and minerals), hormonal patterns, and if there are underlying toxicities or low -grade infections. It can even give and idea of which body systems are coping and which are stressed.

All these put together can give a very clear picture to customize your nutrients to your biochemistry. The professional should be able to guide you on how to effect a customized detoxification plan - essentially a cleaning of all your internal "pipes" to create a more efficient body, along with the required diet and bioavailable (high quality) supplements that can work even for those with the poorest absorption.

Every person trying to lose weight, should have one goal in common:
To lose visceral fat and body fat and increase muscle mass and improve hydration. Any program you embark on, you need to enquire if it is aligned with these core goals, else it is not worth your while. The foundation to this goal is optimization of health in the process. If your health is compromised in any way, re-assess your program.

Despite all the information on the net, the DIY approach can be counter -productive. Just as we know that in order to maximize success, we need an exercise instructor, similarly, we need a professional to guide us in order to create a better body from the inside!
After all, we all need to invest in our body, a living masterpiece.

Author's Bio: 

Best Nutritionist & Naturopath in Singapore who had proven results with her clients. Sheeba, nutritionist singapore is a multiple award winning nutritionist