In part 1, we talked about some signs that you might be dealing with hormone imbalances. In this article, we’re going over some of the key hormones that cause various symptoms and the steps you can take to start re-balancing them.
These are the two significant regulators of fat and sugar storage and burning. Together they affect how well you burn fat, how easily you store fat, what you crave, and how you perceive hunger. And good news: You have the most control over these two hormones with diet and lifestyle.
Cortisol should be high in the morning then steadily decrease throughout the day. You can see in the chart below that the patient’s cortisol levels are too low, which shows up as chronic fatigue, fat storage, and cravings. High cortisol is associated with hard-to-lose belly fat, sugar cravings, and trouble falling asleep.
Insulin’s job is to pull sugar from the blood and store it as fat or use it as fuel. It is impacted by the type of carbs we eat, stress levels, and meal frequency. Over time, elevated cortisol in combination with high insulin will cause you to store fat around your midsection.
This is one the most common imbalances I see and it is often overlooked. It is possible for women of all ages — even through and beyond menopause — to be estrogen dominant in relation to progesterone. This can show up as weight gain (especially around the butt, hips, and thighs), mood swings, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, irregular periods, and PMS.
Depending on your imbalance, you might have a more targeted protocol to follow. For most women, the following tips will make a huge difference and give you the jumpstart you need to supporting your hormones, regardless of running tests or taking a ton of supplements.
Focus on protein, plenty of healthy fats, and fiber with every meal and avoid snacking and “grazing” between meals.
While you sleep, your body is hard at work – removing toxins, repairing tissue, producing hormones, and lowering inflammation. Eight hours of consistent sleep should be a priority for balancing hormones and fat loss.
This will help to lower the stress burden on your body.
This includes alcohol and foods that contain ingredients like processed sugar, inflammatory fats, soy, and processed dairy.
You can’t have healthy hormones with an unhealthy gut. Make sure you’re having regular bowel movements daily and address any signs of bloating, diarrhea, constipation, gas, and acid reflux.
Put less on your to do list, eating in a relaxed state, and taking time for yourself throughout the day. Eat slower to let hormonal signals get through, letting you know when you’re full and avoid over-stressing insulin.
These are herbs that help your body to cope more effectively with the demands of everyday life and offer support to your adrenals.
If you want to dig a little deeper, you can contact Megan at megan@fitnessontherun.net
for a hormone balancing meal plan and extra support.
Due to the high level of interest in this topic, Stylebook will be hosting a free seminar for readers next month about how to identify which hormones may be out of whack, and what you can do to get back in balance. Save Monday, September 17, or email me to pre-reserve your spot.
Alexandria Wellness offers achievable answers for anyone who is tired of chasing fitness and health without a clear plan, someone who has struggled and is not satisfied with their fitness and wellness or someone who is open to maximized healthful longevity and fitness along with healthful weight loss. Adrien and her team offer help with food guidance, body acceptance, sleep and stress issues, and insist you have fun along the way.
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703.299.9333