Are Your Hormones Making You Fat?

Are Your Hormones Making You Fat?

If you have dieted and exercised in the past only to be disappointed then don't dismay or give up just yet....
Diets and exercise are just two pieces of a complex puzzle of weight loss. Hormones are the key to unlocking your weight loss success!


Hormone Imbalance - The Secret Cause of Weight Gain

It is not common practice to get our hormones checked, but even the slightest imbalances can tip the scales and just make weight loss a futile exercise.

Hormones are often not integrated into diet programs because frankly they are very complex. There are numerous different hormones in the body and these present in over a thousand possible combinations that can affect your health and weight.

Hormones and Your Metabolism

Fat storage or fat burning in the body is dictated by hormones, specifically the hormone Insulin. There are also other hormones that effect and influence your metabolism. It is like a big interrelated web where a subtle increase in one hormone may lead to responses from other endocrine glands that produce other hormones causing symptoms such as fatigue, mood changes, low libido and weight gain to name a few.



Major Triggers of Hormonal Imbalance and Weight Gain

· Pregnancy
· Menopause
· Stress
· Lack of sleep
· Poor diet
· Energy Drinks
· Addictions
· Surgery or Blood Loss
· Major Illness
· Environmental toxins

There are many things that can trigger hormone imbalances. You may recognise a certain time in your life when things just changed and you started to gain weight. So many women have this story; it can honestly happen to anyone and it can lead to some further health conditions that compound the problem.

Conditions Contributing to Hormone Imbalance and Weight Gain

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS affects 1 in 5 women and is a major contributor to weight gain in women. It refers to multiple cysts on the ovaries and a host of other problems that go along with them, including lack of ovulation and menstrual abnormalities, facial hair, male pattern baldness, acne, and obesity. Women suffering from this condition may also have varying degrees of insulin resistance and an increased incidence of type II diabetes, high cholesterol & elevated androgen levels. By far the biggest lifestyle contributor to PCOS is poor diet. Women with PCOS produce excess insulin, because their cells are "resistant" to insulin and this excess insulin signals to the body to store more fat. That is why weight gain is usually a common side effect of PCOS. To read about a real success story Click here


Fibroids

Uterine fibroids affect more than 30% of women. The signs and symptoms of fibroids are heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual periods or bleeding between periods, pain, urinary incontinence, frequent urination or urine retention, constipation, backache or leg pains.

Fibroids contribute to weight gain as they increase oestrogen dominance and insulin sensitivity. If you have weight problems and know you also have fibroids - it is a key sign that hormones are at play and contributing to both conditions.


Ovarian Cysts

Cysts contribute to weight gain by increasing oestrogen dominance & impeding glucose metabolism.


Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs when parts of endometrial tissue are found in places other than the lining of your uterus. The symptoms can be painful periods, painful intercourse, ovulation pain, lower back pain, bladder pain, frequent urination and premenstrual spotting. One of the theories behind endometriosis is an excess of oestrogen - this causes PMS symptoms and can lead to fat storing and weight gain.


PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)

Many women accept premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and other menstrual irregularities as a normal part of life. In fact, at least 60% of Australian women suffer from PMS & it is more common in women in their 30's. In reality, menstruation should not cause any significant interruption to your everyday living. Symptoms of PMS are a clear sign that your reproductive system is not working as well as it can be. Essentially, your PMS is a consequence of disturbances in hormonal production, elimination and metabolism.

Weight gain occurs primarily because of oestrogen dominance. Oestrogen dominance describes a condition where you can have normal or excessive oestrogen, but have too little progesterone to balance oestrogen's effects in your body. This decreases thyroid function and increases fat storage.



Thyroid Function

There are 4 main hormones secreted by the thyroid that directly affect your metabolism and body fat. Even a slightest imbalance can throw the equilibrium out. Your thyroid regulates the metabolism of sugars and fats and muscular strength. When the thyroid gland is not working properly or if there is an imbalance, this can impede metabolic performance leading to fat storage. The problem is that even a low to normal thyroid function can lead to weight gain, especially combined with other hormonal irregularities.

It was this imbalance that I found myself with, after the birth of my daughter, leading to frustrating symptoms of fatigue and stubborn weight that just wouldn't budge. To read more about my personal battle and path to success go to: http://www.massattack.com.au/mag.pdf


The Warning Signs of Hormonal Weight Gain Are Your Symptoms

· Cravings
· Fatigue/Tiredness
· Low Libido
· Irregular/Heavy Periods
· Cellulite and Fluid Retention
· Mood swings
· Enlarged Tender Breasts

All of these symptoms indicate the influence of hormones on your body. If you are struggling to lose weight and you experience symptoms such as these then... your hormones could be making you fat!

To reverse this is simple once you know what is going on. Depending on your hormonal profile certain foods will help you lose weight and others will make your weight gain worse. So the key is to get assessed and treat the cause of your weight.

To find out if your hormones are making you fat, visit my website at www.massattack.com.au/questionnaire.html and complete my quick Mini Questionnaire.



The SECRET to your weight gain and future weight loss is WITHIN YOU.

We are not all the same and there is always a reason why you will be putting on weight or resisting weight loss. If you are overweight or struggling with losing weight there is something that is 'not quite right" that needs to be assessed and corrected to allow your body to lose weight and move back into optimal health.

And of course lifestyle change is part of it. There are NO miracle cures, but a tailored plan gives you permanent weight loss that brings your body back into health without drastic dieting and rebound weight gain. The bonus also is that not only will you lose weight but you will also lose any of the hormonal symptoms you may be experiencing, like cravings, PMS, mood swings, painful periods, low libido and fatigue.

It is weight loss from the Inside - Out!
Heal your hormones and YOU will be able to lose weight.

To get a comprehensive online Hormonal Assessment and recommendations go to our website at www.massattack.com.au

Narelle Stegehuis, CEO of Mass Attack is a practicing naturopath specialising in the natural treatment of women's hormonal imbalances that lead to weight gain, such as Thyroid, PCOS, Fibroids and Endometriosis. Uniquely for patient convenience her programs are offered via the internet. She is both an accomplished writer and recipient of the Australian Naturopathic Excellence Award.

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