9 Reasons Your Attempts At Weight Loss Didn’t Work
Looking at keywords that have brought people to my website I see a number of Google searches for “weight loss that works.” The world has likely told you weight gain is genetic and/or you can’t do anything about it without weight loss drugs. If you want to find weight loss that lasts then you’re in the right place. The way I see it, you’ve simply been doing the wrong things and ignoring things that matter. As you might imagine, when you do the right things and include the lifestyle habits that matter you’re going to be successful.
As a massage therapist I see people struggle with joint pain because they’re carrying too much weight. Add in lots of heavy exercise in attempt to lose weight and your joints begin to hurt even more.
Health is actually incredibly simple. It’s so simple in fact I see people who don’t believe what I offer will work for them. We’ve been given a dysfunctional relationship with food and fitness so for most people they think their life has to suck in some way for something to “work.”
Knowing how easy it is to dial in your body composition I don’t believe anyone needs to be medicated to reach their goals. I’ve worked on people on GLP-1 and they’ve traded weight loss for fragility. Fourty percent of weight loss is muscle and muscle mass determines longevity. They’ve essentially enrolled in an abbreviated life just so they can like the number on the scale.
I see countless people struggle but here’s the thing — it’s never been your fault. You’re not lacking willpower nor is your body completely broken and hopeless.
#1 Seed Oils Hinder Weight Loss
Touted as heart healthy they actually increase your odds of developing heart disease. Meanwhile butter is rich in Vitamin K2 that keeps calcium in your bones and out of your arteries. This is one of many lies that keep people confused about what’s healthy.
You’ve heard of antioxidants. Seed oils are the opposite, they’re pro-oxidants, pro-inflammation, and pro-aging. They also hinder your body’s ability to burn stored body fat for energy. So if you’ve ever cut your calories by eating boatloads of salad odds are your salad dressing was full of these oils that would prevent your body fat loss.
“But Jen, I use olive oil and avocado oil because they’re in the Mediterranean diet.” Another study came out recently showing that even “clean brands” of oils, chips, and condiments stating they’re made with avocado and olive oil, are actually are made with seed oils.
Whenever small companies sell out to big food, big food makes it dirty in order to save $$ but they also continue to charge you premium prices. #thingsthatfirejenup
#2 You Tried Weight Loss By Cutting Calories
The concept of calories was created by putting food into an oven.
You’re not an oven so why would this work for you?
If you eat broccoli, steak, or cookies those calories are not the same biochemically. If they were you could live on cookies and lose weight.
Calorie restricted diets have a 95-97% failure rate depending on various sources. This is one of the reasons I refer to when I say you’re not broken. The traditional approach to weight loss doesn’t work for anyone.
When you restrict your calories to lose weight 2 hormonal changes happen.
Your HUNGER hormones INCREASE
and
Your SATIETY hormones DECREASE
This means you’re going to find it much more difficult to feel full. They say you lack willpower and you must not want weight loss bad enough but no one can win that hormonal cascade.
#3 You’re Not Eating Enough — And You’re Simply Eating The Wrong Things
If it says fat free, sugar free, heart healthy, keto, low carb, and even the new products with “protein” added, these are the top things to avoid. They’re created with profits in mind, not weight loss or long term health.
People I’ve coached lose significant weight initially just by cutting out all the chemicals that are added to our food. These chemicals leave you inflamed setting the stage for chronic disease. As inflammation dissipates you’ll lose water weight — and you’ll feel a heck of a lot better.
The idea your body is a bank making deposits and withdrawals of calories has been driven into us when in reality your body is a delicate biochemical environment always striving for balance, a.k.a. homeostasis. Body composition is hormonal more than caloric.
#4 Lifestyle Matters Just As Much As Food Choices
You can count calories, carbs, and macros but the piece usually missing for successful weight loss is lifestyle habits.
Lifestyle determines what your hormonal environment looks like.
If you exercise frequently, get up for 4 am workouts, avoid the sun, and hate your job these are just a few reasons you might not see body fat loss.
#5 You Might Be Leptin Resistant
In this instance your body believes you’re starving so it zaps your energy. It doesn’t want you to burn too many calories and it increases your hunger — all so you don’t starve to death even though you’re carrying excess weight. Exercise is only 10% of weight loss. In this scenario the unending hunger is the bigger culprit.
When you’re ravenous you don’t have the patience to cook. In these instances people reach for what’s quick, convenient, and easy. That typically translates into processed food which is the true culprit.
#6 Weight Loss and Body Composition Are Two Separate Things
Some people assume that all weight loss is good but there are things you don’t want to lose:
Muscle mass
Bone Density
Connective Tissue
Organ mass
Hydration
Consider this:
One liter of water weighs 2.2 lbs. You eat, drink, and go to the bathroom. The scale goes up and down and most of it means absolutely nothing.
Heck, I’ve had girlfriends spend hundreds of dollars on a weekend “cleanse.” They drink green smoothies all weekend and spend a significant amount of time on the toilet. Come Monday the scale says they weigh less so in their mind they believe it worked. In reality you’re simply a little dehydrated.
#7 Weight Loss Programs Sabotage Your Point Of View
“But Jen, I did W_ W_, J_ C_, (insert whatever program you want), and I lost X number of pounds.”
Here’s the thing. If you gained the weight back then that weight loss program didn’t work. A program should work and it should last indefinitely. We’re the only mammal that doesn’t know what to eat and the only one that struggles with body composition.
Most weight loss programs are a great business model. They help you lose weight just enough for you to believe they’re helping you, but not well enough to prevent your return business. How many people do you know who’ve gone to W W multiple times?
What’s even worse is I get to see the psychological damage many of these programs do to women. I’ve yet to help a woman lose weight where I had to tell her to eat less. If anything, I have to encourage them to eat more and initially they’re afraid to.
They don’t trust themselves to eat so they weigh and measure everything they consume out of fear of what will happen if they don’t. How did something so necessary to our life become so complicated?
The truth is it’s not.
#8 Your Exercise Routine Is The Reason You Can’t Lose The Remaining Weight
You don’t like how you look in the mirror so you decide you’re going to exercise more and/or more intensely. Looking to burn as many calories as possible you decide to kick it up to 5-7 days a week of workouts for 1-2 hours each day. Some days you get up extra early just to make sure you don’t miss a session.
Or you enroll in a group fitness class where you enjoy being pushed to the brink because you believe you’re not motivated enough on your own.
And then there’s the running. Everyone thinks they need running for long distances at a red faced pace. More concerning are those who believe they need to add weights to the mix.
“Your future joints are calling to tell you to please stop.”
Exercise contributes 10% of body fat loss. The point of exercise is to strengthen the body to maintain range of motion, muscle mass, and bone density. Everyone uses the restroom and squats mimmic that motion. How long would you like to use the bathroom independently? THAT is the purpose of exercise. To be able to get off the floor by yourself and live as actively as you can for as long as you can.
#9 They Made You An Addict
In the mid 1980’s cigarette sales were going down so Phillip Morris bought Nabisco, General Foods, and Kraft. He took the addictive properties of cigarettes and applied them to our food. The goal was to chemically enhance food products with an addictive quality. This is why you can’t eat just 1 or a serving size.
Alternately, no one eats produce, meat, or any whole food in the same ravenous way. Even worse, using the popularity of the Camel cigarette cartoon figure they then put cartoons everywhere and bright colors to attract the attention of kids.
Most kids are picky eaters, teens are picky eaters with their own funds, college kids are usually too broke to eat well, and then we enter adulthood with 2 decades of poor eating under our belt. It’s no reason most people don’t know what to eat.
The worst trick is products that have been around for decades are no longer made with the same ingredients. Grains are loaded with glyphosate. Yeast Extract, monosodium glutamate, natural flavors, and maltodextrin are all designed to stimulate your brain and taste buds. They add healthy sounding ingredients like apple juice concentrate which actually has more fructose than high fructose corn syrup.
The Good News: Weight Loss That Lasts IS Possible
Prior to becoming a massage therapist I worked as an analytical chemist. Everyday I saw chemical safety data sheets state how much of a particular chemical is needed to kill 50% of mice.
If “X” amount of a chemical kills 50% of mice what does that do to your cells? Sure, they don’t put that much in 1 box of food, but what happens when it’s in multiple boxes? What happens when it’s in multiple boxes with a bunch of other random chemicals?
Let’s say I’m conducting a science experiment where I want to feed you random chemicals in random quantities for 75 years. What would it take for you to agree to that study?
Yet when you walk through any supermarket that’s what it is — a collection of random chemicals. When you consider the herbicides and pesticides on these products you begin to see why everyone is so sick.
If they have to wear hazmat protection to apply these chemicals how is it suddenly safe to eat?
How To Get Help From Jen:
If you live near Boise, Idaho I offer in person coaching sessions in my office. I also offer virtual coaching.
Your first session is free. From there I can suggest 4, 8, or a 12 week program.
Your Body, Decoded
Your Body Isn't Broken. It May Just Need Something Different.
What if the stiffness, fatigue, cravings, aches, and changes you've been blaming on getting older are actually clues that your body needs a change?
You're 40+. Maybe 50+. Maybe 60+.
And somewhere along the way, you've started hearing the same explanation:
“That's just what happens as you age.”
Your joints hurt.
You're tired when you shouldn't be.
Your sleep isn't what it used to be.
Your weight doesn't respond the way it once did.
You have aches and pains that seem to have taken up permanent residence.
You've tried diets.
You've tried eating “healthy.”
You've probably tried exercising more.
And yet...
You don't feel healthy.
I'm here to tell you that getting older doesn't automatically mean you have to accept feeling older.
You Don't Need Another Diet.
You need someone who can help you make sense of the noise.
There is no shortage of nutrition advice.
Eat this.
Don't eat that.
Count this.
Track that.
Exercise more.
Eat less.
Ignore your cravings.
Try the newest superfood.
And if that doesn't work?
Apparently you just need more willpower.
I don't buy it.
My approach is different.
I don't hand you a meal plan and tell you what you're “allowed” to eat. I don't tell you to count calories or punish yourself with exercise.
Instead, I educate you.
I help you understand why your body may be responding the way it is, what influences your metabolism and hormones, and how nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, sunlight, recovery, and your daily environment work together.
My coaching is rooted in species-appropriate nutrition and lifestyle—not the latest diet trend and not a one-size-fits-all prescription.
Think of me as your translator.
The internet is full of information.
Some of it is excellent.
Some of it is outdated.
Some of it is sponsored by someone trying to sell you something.
And some of it is just... confidently wrong.
You shouldn't have to become a nutrition researcher just to figure out what to eat for breakfast.
That's where I come in.
I'll help you separate useful information from noise, understand the science behind the recommendations, and figure out which changes make sense for your goals and your life.
You remain in charge.
I provide the education, experience, perspective, and guidance.
I Don't Tell You What to Do.
I help you understand what your choices can do.
That's an important distinction.
You decide what you're willing to change.
You decide what matters to you.
You decide which habits you're ready to tackle.
My job is to help you understand the likely consequences of those choices, give you the information you need to make informed decisions, and help you troubleshoot when something isn't working.
No shame.
No food police.
No “you fell off the wagon.”
And definitely no starting over every Monday.
We're building something you can actually live with.
What We Look At
Your health doesn't happen in a vacuum.
Food matters—but it's not the only thing that matters.
Depending on your goals, we'll explore the lifestyle factors that can influence how you feel, including:
Nutrition and metabolic health
Blood sugar and cravings
Sleep and recovery
Stress and nervous-system load
Movement and strength
Daily activity—not just your workout
Sunlight and time outdoors
Circadian rhythms
Hydration and minerals
Your relationship with food
Habits that support long-term consistency
Because what you do for one hour at the gym doesn't erase what your body experiences during the other 23 hours of the day.
Your health is happening all day.
Let's work with all of it.
I've Seen What Can Happen When Someone Stops Accepting “This Is Just Aging.”
I've worked with people struggling with joint pain, autoimmune issues, weight, energy, mood, cravings, and the frustrating feeling that their body simply isn't cooperating anymore.
I've watched people in their 70s make significant changes in their pain and wellbeing through changes in food and lifestyle.
I've also worked with someone who had been through two failed back surgeries and was facing another surgery—but first needed to lose 50 pounds.
She was a single mother with two children, dealing with severe physical limitations and restrictions on what she could lift.
We changed the way she was eating.
She lost 50 pounds in five months—four months sooner than her doctor anticipated.
Later that year, she was able to have the surgery she needed.
Today, she's out racing bicycles.
That's not a promise of what will happen for you.
It's an example of what's possible when someone stops assuming that their current condition is the only condition available to them.
Your First Step Is Free.
Before you purchase a coaching package, we'll spend 30 minutes together at no cost to you.
This isn't a sales pitch disguised as a consultation.
It's an opportunity for us to talk.
I'll learn where you are now, what you've tried, what seemed to work, where things fell apart, what you're struggling with, and—most importantly—what you actually want to change.
We'll talk about whether coaching makes sense for you and what kind of support you may need.
If I believe I can help, I'll explain how.
If I don't think I'm the right person for you, I'll tell you that, too.
How Long Will You Need Me?
Some people need a little guidance.
Others have spent years trying to figure this out and need more time, education, troubleshooting, and support.
That's why I offer 4-, 8-, and 12-week coaching packages.
The principles don't change.
The amount of time you have to practice, learn, adapt, and build confidence does.
After our initial conversation, I'll help you determine which level of support makes the most sense for where you are right now.
This Isn't About Becoming Perfect.
It's about becoming less confused.
More capable.
More informed.
More connected to your own body.
And eventually, more independent.
My goal isn't to keep you dependent on me forever.
It's to teach you enough that you can make decisions with confidence long after our coaching relationship ends.
Because you shouldn't need a coach to tell you what to eat for the rest of your life.
You should understand your body well enough to make those decisions yourself.
If you're tired of being told that feeling lousy is simply part of getting older...
Let's talk.
Your first 30-minute consultation is free.
You may not need another diet.
You may not need another workout.
You may simply need someone who knows how to look at the whole picture.
What You’ll Get From Me:
20+ years of bodywork experience
Certified Primal Health Coach
Functional Lab Testing Specialist
More than a decade of studying nutrition and lifestyle
A very specific philosophy
Actual client outcomes
Experience working with women 40+
A framework that considers food + movement + sleep + stress + sunlight + recovery + lifestyle
The ability to explain why rather than simply handing people rules
Real-world experience seeing what happens when people implement these changes
And most importantly:
I've lived the experiment myself. My perspective isn't theoretical.
Payment plans available
Choose the option that works best for you.
Pay in full or divide your investment into convenient monthly installments.
Please note:Payment plans are installments toward the full coaching package and are not month-to-month memberships. By choosing a payment plan, you are committing to the full coaching package selected.
Health coaching provides education, mentoring, and lifestyle guidance. It does not diagnose or treat medical conditions or replace care from your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
