Do you ever feel like you just can’t lose weight, no matter how hard you try? You’re not alone. Many women struggle with their weight every day, and often times it feels like fighting a losing battle. But what if the reason you can’t lose weight has nothing to do with your willpower or lack thereof? What if the root of the problem is something else entirely? In this blog post, I will discuss how hormones influence your weight and the role they play in your overall health. By understanding how these chemicals work, you can finally start to see real results in your weight loss journey!
How Do Hormones Affect Your Weight?
Your weight is primarily determined by 3 things: diet, movement, stress. But there’s a third factor that plays a role in your weight and that’s your hormone health. Hormones are chemical messengers that affect every single cell in your body. They control everything from your mood and energy levels to your metabolism and hunger cues. So, it’s no surprise that hormones can also influence your weight and body composition. It’s also no surprise to many women that this issue is often over looked. This is why working with a medical weight loss specialist is so important.
There are two primary hormones that play a role in your weight: insulin and leptin. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body regulate blood sugar levels. When you eat food that comprises carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into sugar and releases insulin into your bloodstream. This insulin then signals your cells to take up the sugar and use it for energy. In a healthy individual, this process works efficiently, and blood sugar levels remain stable.
However, in someone with insulin resistance, the cells don’t respond properly to insulin’s signals. This causes sugar to build up in the bloodstream, which can lead to weight gain and other health problems like type II diabetes. And guess what? If you have ANY extra fat tissue, just 1 cell, you have insulin resistance. This is a highly overlooked issue in today’s treatment of weight management that deserves a medical professional to help you learn more about what might work for you.
Leptin is another hormone that affects your weight. This hormone is produced by your fat cells, and it helps to regulate your appetite. When leptin levels are high, you feel full and satisfied after eating. But when leptin levels are low, you feel hungry even if you’ve just eaten a meal. Leptin is also affected by extra adipose tissue.
Leptin resistance is thought to be one of the major factors that people struggle to lose weight. When leptin resistance is present, your body doesn’t receive the signal that you’re full, so you continue to eat even when you don’t need to. This can lead to weight gain and other health problems, like insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or heart disease.
Apart from this, other hormones like cortisol, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones can also influence your weight. You may even check out why do women gain weight during menopause so that you can find more information about this. If you have PCOS or think you have PCOS, hormones are the key to changing the metabolic imbalance in your body to allow you to lose weight. Remember, if you think your weight gain may be due to a hormone imbalance, it’s important to speak with a medical weight loss provider. They can help you identify the root cause of the problem and find a treatment plan that works for you.
How to Balance Your Hormones and Lose Weight?
If you’re struggling to lose weight, it’s essential to get your hormone health in check. There are a few things you can do to balance your hormones and promote weight loss. First, eat a healthy diet that’s rich in whole foods. Avoid processed foods, sugary drinks, and refined carbohydrates, as these foods can trigger insulin resistance and lead to weight gain. Instead, focus on eating plenty of lean protein, healthy fats, and fiber-rich vegetables and fruits. I usually recommend my clients to take the holistic approach to losing weight as it is more sustainable in the long run. Anything else is just a band-aid solution that will only work temporarily.
Second, exercise regularly. Exercise helps to improve insulin sensitivity and can also help to increase leptin levels. And trust me, you don’t have to spend hours in the gym to see results. Just 30 minutes walk a day is enough to improve your hormone health and promote weight loss. Or, to make it more fun, you can try out different group fitness classes like Jazzercise or make your house chores your workout routine. For instance, you can put on some music and dance while you are cleaning the house or cooking dinner.
Last, get enough sleep. Sleep is essential for hormone health and weight loss. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol. This can lead to weight gain and other health problems. So, make sure you’re getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night. You can also try out some relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation to help you wind down before bed. A good night’s sleep will do wonders for your hormone health and weight loss goals.
To Conclude
I hope this article has helped you understand how hormones influence your weight. If you suspect you have PCOS, please find a medication professional that understands this diagnosis, how to treat and evaluate it. My holistic approach to women weight loss in Spokane will give you the tools and support you need to reach your weight loss goals. Contact me today to learn more about my program and how I can help you lose weight and keep it off for good. Thanks for reading!
