Tip This Can Stop Fat Loss Search Skip to content Menu Menu follow us Store Articles Community Loyal-T Club Loyal-T Points Rewards Subscribe to Save Search Search The World s Trusted Source & Community for Elite Fitness Diet & Fat LossEating Tip This Can Stop Fat Loss It' s a common problem that can stall fat loss and wreck your health even if your diet is in check by Susan Birch June 18, 2018April 5, 2021 Tags Gut Bacteria, Losing Fat, Nutrition & Supplements, Tips Gut Dysfunction and Stalled Fat Loss Gut issues are a major source of stress for the body, and digestive issues can stall efforts to lose body fat. Think gut problems aren't a big deal? They're a huge deal. Proper digestion and the absorption of nutrients is essential for fat loss. The body is a complex chemical factory that can't function properly without the right nutrients available. So asking your body to perform when it's deficient is like expecting your car to run without oil. Luckily there are some basic ways to assess whether digestion is a problem. Study Your Poop The first consideration is the regularity and consistency of your bowel movements. These should be well formed with elimination at least once a day. Constipation and diarrhea are both red flags of digestive issues that need to be addressed. If you experience bloating, excessive gas, or reflux, then it's likely you're having difficulty absorbing nutrients and may have bacterial imbalances or food intolerances. Taking antacids or other medications to alleviate these issues will make the problem worse. They're temporary fixes for deeper issues. Bad Bugs If your diet is low in processed foods and you suffer from these symptoms then testing for bacterial overgrowth, Candida, parasites, and other bugs may be necessary to identify exactly what's going on. Food allergies and histamine reactions occur frequently when digestion and elimination pathways aren't performing well. Gluten and lactose sensitivity are common and may have genetic components. If you find yourself becoming itchy, getting hives, urticaria or suffering from other chronic skin conditions, that'll be another sign that you have bowel problems. Yes, all these things indicate gut dysfunction. Lots of symptoms indicate problems: gas, bloating, even the excessive feeling of fullness. It's interesting how many people tell me they think those things are normal. So many fit, lean and otherwise healthy-appearing people have chronic gut issues. It's not something to brush off. Testing and professional consulting from a specialist may be in order. Get The T Nation Newsletters Don' t Miss Out Expert Insights To Get Stronger, Gain Muscle Faster, And Take Your Lifting To The Next Level related posts Diet & Fat Loss The King of Meals You've heard it before: "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!" Or perhaps you've heard it stated in reference to a long night of liver depletion and fasting catabolism: "Break the fast... breakfast!" Feeding the Ideal Body, Nutrition & Supplements Lonnie Lowery, PhD June 15 Diet & Fat Loss Nutrition For Newbies Ten basic, but often ignored, eating guidelines guaranteed to improve your body composition and fuel your workouts. Diet Strategy, Feeding the Ideal Body, Nutrition & Supplements Tony Gentilcore July 19 Diet & Fat Loss Tip Bake Your Bacon Here's how to enjoy bacon with fewer calories and easier clean-up. Bonus: How to make turkey bacon that doesn't suck. Feeding the Ideal Body, Nutrition & Supplements, Recipes, Tips Chris Shugart January 1 Eating 3 Protein Powder Recipes That ll Blow Your Mind Protein shakes are great, but have you tried chocolate-chip cheesecake? Whip up one of these healthy protein powder recipes. Nutrition & Supplements, Protein Chris Shugart October 24