#125 Why You Can’t Lose Fat with Dr Sylvia Tara
3rd Nov 2021
Today I’m talking with Dr Sylvia Tara all about the internal and external forces that govern fat. How we gain fat, how we lose fat, why your body refuses to let go of fat and how you navigate the confusing diet and fitness world
It’s not that I don’t believe in calories (obviously they exist), but it’s certainly not the most important factor when it comes to weight control for a lot of people. And for too long, people who have failed on diets and find themselves on a downward spiral of negative emotions and feel that they don’t have anything to blame other than poor will power. Today, we are going to explain why that’s not necessarily the case.
Dr Sylvia Tara has a PhD in biochemistry from the University of California at San Diego and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. As a biochemist, she was driven to get to the bottom of fat’s mysteries and the reasons it vexes us, plus her own struggles with weight and dieting. Her book “The Secret Life of Fat” frames our conversation today and we largely speak about how Gender, Genes, Bugs and even Viruses can determine whether one person absorbs 120 calories and another can absorb 80 calories from the same bowl of cereal labelled as 100. Sounds impossible, but it’s true.
We discuss the complex biology of fat, how it resists loss, and what to do to remove stubborn fat. And stick around to the end of the podcast where I summarise the main tips to help you live a healthier life that balances an appreciation for why fat shouldn’t be demonised and how to live more metabolically healthier.
The topic of weight loss may make some people feel uncomfortable. I do my best to make our conversations as compassionate and approachable as possible but please exercise caution if you feel you might be triggered by these topics.
- Access over 800 research backed recipes
- Personalise food for your unique health needs
- Bone health
- Brain health
- Cancer
- Children's health
- Cooking skills
- Exercise
- Farming and food production
- Foods & nutrients
- Gut health
- Health basics
- Healthy ageing
- Heart health
- Hormonal health
- Hot topics
- Immune health
- Inflammation
- Kidney & bladder health
- Life purpose & motivation
- Menopause
- Mental health
- Oral health
- Skin health
- Sleep health
- Type 2 diabetes
- Weight management
- What to eat for
- #262 Strategies to lose weight, maintain weight loss and live healthier with Dr Rupy Aujla
- #245 Ozempic. The truth about the side effects and risks of this Magic Pill with Johann Hari
- #231 Weight Loss, Visceral Fat and Ozempic with Dr Nick Fuller
- #226 5 Better Ways to Enjoy Your Carbs with Dr Rupy Aujla
- #209 Why a Calorie is not a Calorie with Dr Robert Lustig
- #205 Spices for Longevity, Inflammation and Weight Loss with Simon Mills
- #191 Eat to Charge Your Metabolism and Burn Fat with Dr William Li
- #181 Everything You Want to Know About Food with Professor Tim Spector OBE
- #144 Flatten Your Glucose Levels with Jessie Inchauspe
Relevant recipes
-
New!Tofu and Tempeh 5.0
One Pan Black Bean, Tofu and Rainbow Rice Bake
-
New!Stir Fries
Chicken Teriyaki Stir-fry
-
Catalan-style Cod
-
Tofu and Black Bean Taco Salad
-
Cottage Cheese Fritters
-
Chickpea Pancakes
-
Chicken Salad with Orange Ginger Dressing
-
Chickpea, Buckwheat and Hemp Bread
-
Bulghur, Chickpea, Spinach, Feta, Walnut and Blueberry Salad
-
Gochujang, Orange and Peanut Stir-fry