Are Your Hormones Misfiring?

Losing weight is easy, said no one ever and if they did, they would be lying. No matter how prepared you think you are to do a diet or lifestyle change, there are going to be some stuff that is going to push you to the limit, like detoxing, plateaus which stop the scale from moving and it will second guess your weight-loss motivation. Most people and by most I mean all have their fair share of ups and downs while trying to lose weight and it can become very discouraging.

Today let's discuss a very important part of getting healthy which is to focus on getting our hormones back in balance and working the way they were intended to. If I have said it once I have said it a million times - " You do not lose weight to get healthy, you get healthy in order to lose weight".

Step 1 - Step away from the scale and no one will get hurt!

99 percent of weight loss resistance is hormonal and is why the scale is not moving, so stop focusing just on what the scale is telling you. When the scale is not moving it will lower your self-esteem, it is often why so many people yoyo diet. As your coach, we know there is a better way, a way to gain back your health, lose weight while building self-esteem, and celebrating your successes along the way. So many people make New Year’s resolution to lose weight when in reality your resolution should be about wellness. Focusing on wellness rather than weight loss will give you the best of both worlds. You get to feel better, get healthier and yes lose weight too.

Step 2 - What you put into your body to fuel it will have an impact on how it functions

A healthy diet is important to maintaining good gut health, which is a lot more necessary for overall health than you might think. Poor gut health is linked to inflammation, research has proven that inflammation is the root of many health issues including hormonal imbalances. Our lifestyle program will help you avoid diet-related hormonal imbalances. Below are just a few ways to get you started

• Focus on these 3 macronutrients - healthy proteins, carbs, and fats.

• Vitamins, minerals are also important for a healthy body and will help with weight loss. Vitamin A, B, C, D & K just to mention a few, and minerals like Calcium and Magnesium.

• Reduce inflammatory foods that cause issues. Common inflammatory foods include refined grain products like white flour, trans fats, hydrogenated oils, added sugar, and dairy.

• We recommend you increase your probiotic intake with a probiotic supplement. Ensure it contains at least 10 strains, prebiotics, and enzymes.

  • Fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, and kimchi.

  • Prebiotics like oats, bananas, onions, and chicory root, garlic, leeks, savoy cabbage

  • Consume 25-30 mg per day. Sources of dietary fiber include avocados, raspberries, and psyllium husk, chia seeds, and flax seeds

• Consume healthy fats in healthy quantities. Some sources of healthy fats include: Fish like wild-caught salmon, nuts and seeds, grass-fed meat, coconut oil, and olive oil

  • Drink enough water to hydrate properly. Adequate water supply is critical for proper bodily function.

Caffeine & Alcohol

Related to diet, the amount of alcohol and caffeine you consume can have an effect on your hormones. When too much caffeine is consumed it increases the amount of stress hormones the adrenal glands produce. This can lead to sleep loss, appetite changes, digestive issues, and ultimately energy levels, which is the opposite of the reason you likely consume caffeine in the first place.

Limiting caffeine intake to one to two servings per day is helpful in avoiding these problems. Some people also have caffeine sensitivities that mean it should be avoided altogether.

Alcohol consumption can also contribute to hormonal imbalance. Often this takes the form of estrogen dominance and can lead to an increase in the risk of serious problems like abnormal pancreatic function, insulin resistance, liver disease, anxiety, and malnutrition.

Smoking

It’s no secret that smoking is detrimental to one’s health. Not only is it associated with an increased risk for lung cancer, but it can affect the body in places beyond the respiratory system. Smoking affects reproductive hormones like estrogen and testosterone.

Step 3 Education yourself on how Stress, Sleep & Exposure to Toxins can stop weight loss.

Stress, inadequate sleep, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in hairspray makeup, skincare products, cleaning products, all of these factors can also lead to hormone imbalances, and regardless of things you are doing to regain your health or lose weight these 3 things can stop progress in their tracks.. For more information on endocrine-disrupting chemicals check out The Environmental Working Group (EWG) as a helpful resource for more information about choosing safer products.

The big takeaway: Hormones dictate what your body does with food and every other aspect of your body's health. You need them in very specific amounts for your body to function optimally. Despite the fact that aging and other factors like the toxin in the environment are beyond our control, consuming nutritious foods, exercising on a regular basis, and engaging in other healthy behaviors can go a long way toward improving your hormonal health.