Shoot the Hormones
Maintaining your ideal body weight can be a frustrating and difficult task. You may have heard or suspected that your hormones have something to do with your inability to lose weight. Well, that can absolutely be the case for many women, especially if you have had children, been on birth control pills or are approaching mid-life. These things and more can lead to a condition called Estrogen Dominance, which simply means your levels of Progesterone are too low to balance out the Estrogen you have.
Progesterone Helps Your Thyroid Hormones Function More Efficiently.
When you have low levels of progesterone your liver produces excess amounts of a protein called Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG). This TBG binds to the the thyroid hormones your body makes. This basically means it blocks, or ties up the hormone so that it is not able to be utilized properly by your body. The net effect of this is a form of Hypothyroidism that some refer to as Type 2 Hypothyroidism, which does not show up on blood tests since the problem is within your cells rather than in your blood.
Progesterone Lowers Insulin Levels.
Insulin is affected by hormone imbalance, and estrogen dominance can lead to the release of excess insulin. Increases in insulin can lead to sugar cravings that can be hard to control. This is why many women crave chocolate or other sweets during PMS. It’s all making sense now isn’t it?
Progesterone is a Natural Anti-Inflammatory.
Reducing inflammation also helps your brain to receive anther hormone called Leptin, which helps to regulate your appetite. Balanced hormones make it easier to eat in moderation and lose weight.
Progesterone is a Natural Sleep Aid.
This is because progesterone has a calming effect on the brain. Estrogen on the other hand has an excitatory effect on the brain. Because of this, women with estrogen dominance typically sleep very restlessly. Sleep deprivation is also associated with disrupting the hormone that regulates your appetite (Leptin). Lack of sleep has been linked to both increased calorie consumption and reduced energy expenditure (more calories in and fewer calories out).
Progesterone Reduces Fluid Retention.
When Estrogen levels are not balanced out by adequate levels of progesterone, women tend to retain more fluid than usual. Progesterone is a natural diuretic and can greatly reduce bloating and swelling. The forskolin extract is trending lately, mainly due to its success with bloating sensations.
The benefits of hormonal balance can include better sleep, improved moods, increased energy, better mental function, improved libido, and yes, even weight loss! –
Fixing the problem:
Women should be focused on eating more of the right things and exercising smarter. This means eating higher amounts of vegetables and “estrogen free protein” (a soy free and organic meat focused approach) as well as engaging in weight training over cardio. There are only three ways to reliably restore HGH without buying HGH products for sale (human growth hormone, which keeps young and beautiful) in the body: sleep, adequate protein, and intense exercise using weights.
Weight training is perhaps the most important aspect of this and is critical for female health especially to stop the belly fat that accumulates during aging. HGH is to women what testosterone is to men. It keeps them looking young, lean, and firm. Once progesterone levels fall due to stress, menopause, or other factors, HGH is all that is left to keep belly fat in check, you can find the best HGH for sale in America.
Women falsely believe less intense exercise like walking and yoga will give them the desired “look” of their younger years. While these activities are exceedingly healthy, they will not be adequate to generate the hormonal effect needed to raise HGH. However, they will work synergistically with more intense exercise to lower the negative impact of cortisol.
The female fat-loss formula involves the following:
- Decrease exposure to all estrogen related factors in the diet and environment. Including plastic bottles, coffee, soy, pesticides, non-organic meats, sodas, etc.
2.Help the body deal with excess estrogen through natural detoxification. This is done through increased intake of green tea, cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc.), increased fiber, tailored supplementation, and decreased dairy and grain (yes, these cause excess release of insulin and conventional milk products may add to the estrogen burden).
- Decrease insulin and cortisol effects by decreasing most grains and starches, and replace with fruits and vegetables. Drink water (not out of plastic) and green tea, and skip coffee and other beverages.
- Supplement with Vitamin D, calcium, and Fish Oil, yes to protect bones, but more importantly to decrease inflammation, protect against heart disease and cancer, and balance female hormones.
- Train with weights 3 to 5 times per week. If you want to burn fat, decrease belly fat, build bone, improve mood, enhance strength, bolster self-esteem, tighten the body – NOTHING compares to weight lifting exercise. Walking is necessity, NOT exercise. Women should walk as much as they can daily.
Menopause
In your late 30s, your egg supply begins to decline in number and quality. As a result, your hormone production changes. You may notice a shortened menstrual cycle and some premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms that you didn’t have before.
Gradually, your periods become irregular. This can start as early as your late 30s or as late as your early 50s. It continues for 2 to 8 years before menstrual cycles end.
During this time, your ovaries are sometimes producing too much estrogen and/or progesterone and at other times too little. Your progesterone is likely to fluctuate more than before. This can lead to heavy menstrual bleeding. (If you have heavy or unexpected vaginal bleeding, see your doctor to be sure it isn’t caused by a more serious condition.)
About 6 months to a year before your periods stop, your estrogen starts to drop. When it drops past a certain point, your menstrual cycles stop. After a year of no menstrual periods, you are said to have “reached menopause.”
During the next year or so, estrogen levels keep going down. This lowers your risk for certain types of cancers (estrogen is linked to some types of cancerous cell growth). But low estrogen also creates some health concerns, such as:
Bone loss. Low estrogen levels after menopause speed bone loss, increasing your risk of osteoporosis.
Skin changes. Low estrogen leads to low collagen, which is a building block of skin and connective tissue. It’s normal to have thinner, dryer, wrinkled skin after menopause. The vaginal lining and the lower urinary tract also thin and weaken. This condition can make sexual activity difficult. It can also increase the risk of vaginal and urinary tract infections.
Tooth and gum changes. Low estrogen affects connective tissue, which increases your risk of tooth loss and possibly gum disease.
Although the reasons aren’t well understood, a woman’s risk of heart disease increases after menopause. Because heart disease is the number one killer of women, consider your heart risk factors when making lifestyle and treatment decisions.
If you have trouble sleeping, mood swings, hot flashes, cloudy thinking, heavy menstrual periods, or other symptoms, treatment can help you get through this time more comfortably.
Treatment for menopause symptoms may include:
Healthy lifestyle habits, including exercise, healthy eating, and quitting smoking. To learn more, see Home Treatment.
Hormones and other medicines, such as antidepressants. To learn more, see Medications.
Treatments such as black cohosh and soy. To learn more, see Other Treatment.
A healthy lifestyle can help you manage menopause symptoms. It can also help lower your risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, and other long-term health problems.
If you smoke, stop smoking to reduce hot flashes and long-term health risks.
Exercise regularly to promote both physical and emotional health.
Limit alcohol intake to reduce menopause symptoms and long-term health risks.
Make healthy eating a priority. Cut back on simple sugars and caffeine, which can make menopause symptoms worse. You’ll not only feel better but may also prevent long-term health problems.
Pay attention to how the emotional side of menopause is affecting you. Have a support network, and seek help as needed.
Make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D. Eat foods that are rich in calcium, and take calcium and vitamin D supplements. This can help lower your risk of osteoporosis.
To manage hot flashes, try keeping your environment cool, dressing in layers, and managing stress.
