Our bodies need help to ensure all the hormones are in balance with one another. When they get off, our bodies will respond to compensate and it can be in a way we do not prefer. Hormones regulate almost all the functions in the human body. They are essential for ensuring healthy growth and development, and they also regulate our mood and sleep cycles.
As we grow older, hormones that are essential for controlling weight, such as estrogen and testosterone, decrease. So it becomes increasingly difficult to get rid of excess weight and body fat — especially abdominal fat.
All hormones are important — and a hormonal imbalance can cause many health problems, including decreased bone mass, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and weight gain.
Hormones are signaling molecules that carry information all over the body for it to function properly. Everything from your mood, emotions, hunger, to larger more complex processes like reproduction are controlled by the endocrine system.
The endocrine system is a collection of glands that produce hormones.
There are so many hormones constantly sending messages it can be hard to keep track; however, the more you know about specific hormones the more you can take an active role in controling your weight.
Low levels of certain hormones can affect how quickly and easily you are able to build muscle and store fat.
Let’s start with testosterone. There is a common misconception that testosterone is somehow a “male” only hormone and therefore women do not have it. Truthfully, both men and women produce testosterone; men just produce more of it.
As we age, both men and women can begin to see their testosterone levels drop. There are many symptoms associated with low testosterone.
In general, whenever hormone levels decrease or increase, you can begin to feel less energetic and sluggish. That can make sticking to a consistent workout routine nearly impossible, thus slowly increasing your fat storage due to inactivity.
Let’s say you are making it to the gym but you’re still not seeing the result. Your testosterone levels determine your body’s ability to build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more fat you burn. Rebalancing your hormonal levels will ensure that you are not wasting your time in the gym. You can start to see the results of your hard work.
When you are put in a stressful situation the body goes into something called “fight” or “flight” mode. Immediately, the body starts churning out hormones which act as little messengers to protect you. We call these stress hormones.
There is nothing wrong with stress hormones. In fact, stress hormones give us a boost of energy and endurance, and help us be more alert.
Unlike our ancestors who used these stress hormones to prevent getting eaten alive by predators, our body reacts to stress we may feel about a tight deadline at the office or making it on time to an important appointment.
Cortisol, Adrenaline and Norepinephrine are three of our most common stress hormones. Stress hormones slow down our metabolism which in turn increases our ability to store fat.
If you believe you may be suffering from a hormonal imbalance, you are not alone. Of all individuals who suffer from symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance, around 80% are women and 20% are men.
As it relates to weight gain, decreased testosterone levels can cause stubborn and persistent weight gain in our midsection. Excess belly fat can lead to other serious health risks.
When it comes to excess weight associated with hormonal imbalances, a body fat percentage of 35% or more for postmenopausal women means a higher risk of obesity-related heart and diabetes risks. The risks don’t stop there, in fact you can also suffer from a higher total and LDL (bad) cholesterol and insulin resistance.
Hormone therapy is a simple treatment in which a trained medical professional prescribes or administers hormones either by injection, on the skin or under the tongue.
Men and women around the world rely on hormone therapy as an effective treatment for a variety of symptoms, including weight gain. Based on a study released about the effects of hormone therapy on postmenopausal women confirms this conclusion.
The study mentioned above included participants of 1,000 women between the ages of 50 and 80. According to the findings, the participants who were already taking hormones had lower levels of belly fat than women who had not taken hormones.
Scientists are also hopeful that additional studies are proving hormone replacement therapy may also counteract insulin resistance.
Weight loss is not as easy as we see on the social media ads, billboards and commercials.
There are so many reasons why your body may be packing on extra pounds. It could be a change in your diet, decreased levels of activity, or it could be evidence of a less obvious issue like hormone imbalance.
If you are sick and tired of wasting hours sweating on the elliptical or counting calories without success, then you’ve come to the right place.
If you have tried traditional doctor approved methods for weight loss and still haven’t seen “any” improvement, then it may be a sign your lack of results is caused by a hormonal imbalance.
The good news is, once you get an assessment and understand how hormones work, you’ll realize that you do not have to suffer the many symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances.
Multiple studies prove that hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is an effective method for rebalancing your hormone levels and getting your life back to normal. This can include your thyroid performance which is more than the typical TSH tested by your primary care physician. Other key items include free T3 and free T4.
The first step to reducing stubborn fat on your waistline is to learn the facts. Then you can decide if hormone therapy is the right choice for you.
Studies confirm that HRT is effective in helping to reduce belly fat. However, if you desire long-lasting results, then it is recommended you also avoid self-defeating habits that contribute to weight fluctuations.
Click on book an appointment or call 612-778-1688 to schedule your appointment with one of our medical professionals.
If you have labs within 90 days showing hormone levels please bring them with you to the consultation.
If you don’t have recent labs, we can order them for you when you are at your consultation. We can draw your blood in our office and send it off to the private lab. The fees associated with labs are the patients’ responsibility at the time of the blood draw and will be discussed thru the consultation.
A follow up consultation will be scheduled at the time of your blood draw. The medical team will review the results and discuss treatment options.
1 – 2 months after treatment has begun, the medical team will want to have follow up consultation. This also allows us to make any necessary dosage adjustments.
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