Hormones and Weight Loss

By Karen Clarke-Bennett, DO

To achieve lasting and effective weight loss goals it is essential to consider your hormonal levels and how they might be affecting your progress. Hormones play a dramatic part in regulating many body systems; directly affecting your metabolism, your ability to lose fat and gain strength in your muscles. Hormones tell the body where to store fat and how we can then remove it.

An imbalance in your hormonal system could be the cause of your weight gain and not just a barrier to losing it. Generally weight gain is actually a symptom of hormonal imbalance and is one of many other signs the body provides as a reaction to stress. Don't let an imbalance in hormonal levels create havoc in your body.

There are a few things you can do on your own to help balance your hormone levels. First, one of the most recuperative things you can do to help your body function optimally is to provide it with consistent adequate sleep. This will also help reduce stress and regulate the hormones that control your appetite.

Another great suggestion is to find ways to reduce stress in your daily life by eliminating where you can, things that create an excess amount of unneeded stress.

Lastly, consider eating and taking supplementation to reduce inflammation in the body. A reduction of inflammation in the body will positively impact your life in many additional ways on top of your weight loss efforts.

To find out where your hormone levels are is easy and can be done during your next trip to the doctor. Once your hormone levels are optimized your results could include a boost in your metabolism allowing weight to come off more easily.

If you are trying to lose weight, make sure to take a look at your hormone levels and see how optimizing them may help you reach your goal.