Ghrelin is a hormone only discovered about a decade ago and its implications in our understanding of weight loss are nothing short of astounding. Its primary function is to drive appetite as a survival mechanism. So while we’ve all lived under the idea that dieting and weight loss is based on will power, new research shows that how we eat is often beyond our control. Because we’re ruled by a powerful hormone that exists to make us eat, we must learn to work with our physiology rather than fighting it. Not until we understand ghrelin and its processes can we eat in a manner that aids—not sabotages—weight loss. And unfortunately, many of our go-to strategies, like dieting, skipping meals and exercising up a storm actually trigger ghrelin and hinder our ability to lose weight. With Manuel’s approach, clients are often directed to eat more frequently, sometimes in quantities they may not even desire, or have been conditioned to reject. The reality is, only by feeding ghrelin can we stave off its appetite-inducing power.
In addition to understanding what ghrelin is, it’s important to recognize the multitude of scenarios that can trigger it. For example, when we lose weight, ghrelin spikes. When we skip meals, ghrelin spikes. When we don’t have a proper balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, ghrelin spikes. And maybe most shockingly, when women exercise, ghrelin spikes. Imagine the reaction of most Americans upon learning that eating too little and relying on exercise can lead to weight gain!