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Women and Weight Loss: How Hormones Can Help or Hinder Your Diet

Modified on August 4, 2015 at 4:47 PM

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When you look around, it seems like some women drop weight without even trying. In fact, some women can eat anything and still lose weight. But, not you. Why is that? In a word: hormones.

Men and Women Differ

Men and women are very different creatures, if you haven’t figured that out already! For starters, the hormone levels, types, and how they play into weight loss are very different. The dominate male hormone is testosterone. As long as men keep free and total testosterone up in a healthy range, and estrogen is kept in check, most of the male problems are solved. Weight loss is, more or less, simple.

But, females need to balance a multitude of hormones, both estrogens and testosterone, and those hormone levels are constantly changing every day thanks to something you have come to know as “the monthly visitor.” Aunt flow.

Yep, the menstrual cycle. While something like the Venus diet will help, you also have to take into account the fact that your hormone cycling will drive a lot of your weight loss efforts. Both diet and hormones need to be optimized.

What Your Menstrual Cycle Does For You

The first day of bleeding is considered “day 1” of the menstrual cycle. From there, it’s divided into two phases. First, there’s the follicular phased. Second is the luteal phase.

Ovulation separates the two parts of the cycle.

During the follicular phase, you are producing higher estrogen levels compared to progesterone, and during the luteal phase, the opposite is true – you’re producing more progesterone.

If you’re trying to lose weight, you’ll want to focus a lot of your efforts into dieting and tweaking during a time when your body is primed for weight loss. Think of this as driving down the highway. If you’re driving down the highway, and you want to maintain speed or increase speed, it’s not going to help you if your foot is on the brake.

Your hormones are sort of like the brake in the weight-loss process. If you’re going to drive, drive when your foot is off the brake.

How To Get Your Foot Off The Brake

Estrogen works to increase fat storage by up-regulating something called alpha-adrenergic receptors in fat depots in the hips and thighs. So, if you’re trying to lose weight, you are probably going to see the best results during certain times of the month – times when estrogen is low.

A low carb diet like The Dukan Diet may also help by throttling alpha receptors, allowing beta receptors to improve fat-burning. If you’ve watched some of your most successful friends and acquaintances, one reasons they’re probably successful is because they’re consciously or unconsciously consuming fewer carbs (whether through calorie restriction or direct carbohydrate reduction) in their diet.

What You Need To Know About Fat Distribution

Females tend to distribute fat differently from males. In females, the hips and thighs are where most of the fat ends up. This area also contains a high concentration of alpha receptors, so it makes sense that you would gain the most weight here.

How Age Helps Or Hurts You

As you get older, some people find it more difficult to lose weight. Women are often fooled into thinking that a low-calorie diet and aerobic exercise will help them lose weight. This is sort of backwards. By reducing you’re calorie intake, you’re starving your body of the nutrients and energy it needs to function.

At the same time, you are increasing the energy demands. It seems logical that if you aren’t eating enough energy (food) your body will simply pull from fat stores. And, this can be true, but what often happens is that the body pulls from fat stores around the waist and breasts first, leaving the hips and thighs alone. Then, the body goes after muscle because you’re using a low-energy, steady-state, cardio “burn” to demand calories.

This results in reduced muscle mass, but not reduced fat loss. Ouch. It’s a double-whammy.

Instead, what you should be doing is increasing your weight-lifting capacity through strength-training, which will preserve muscle mass. Lift heavy and infrequently, perhaps 2 to 3 times per week for no more than one or two hours per week, total. Stick to large, compound lifts like the deadlift, squat, bench press, and overhead press.

Reduce the amount of estrogenic foods you consume, like soy. You should also consider getting rid of plastic food containers which contain substances that mimic estrogens in your body.

Last, but not least, focus on getting more sleep as you get older. Sleep is so underrated but is the single-most important factor in maintaining proper hormone balance and energy levels throughout the day.

 

GUEST BLOGGER: Hazel Frias is a personal fitness coach. She enjoys sharing her health insights on the web. Her articles can be found mainly on health and fitness websites.

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Posted By Guest Blogger
on August 8, 2015 at 10:42 AM
Filed Under: Fashion Advice
Tagged With: Diet, diet tips, dieting, Dukan Diet, fat loss, hormones, menstrual cycle, No Carbs, The Dukan Diet, The Venus Diet, Venus Diet, Weight Loss

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Sarah-Jean Ballard

Hi! I’m Sarah-Jean. I’m a Christian, the wife of a handsome Molecular Biologist, and the homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids!

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You do not find a happy life. You make it. 

That’s the biggest lesson that grief has taught me. If I just wait around to be happy again, I’ll die sad. 

You don’t get through grief and come out the other side. That’s not how it works. You learn how to grow around it like a tree grows around a rock that’s in the way. You don’t wait for the rock to move. Cause it’s not gonna. 

Choose happy. And then make it happen. 

#choosehappy #joyinthejourney #griefjourney #healingfromtrauma
8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favor 8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favorite. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, @daeinexplains 🥰

The last 20 years with you have been my favorite years on this earth. ❤️ 

If I did anything right in my life, it was when I decided to give my heart to you.  You are my best friend, my soul mate, my better half, my rock, my everything. 

I love you.

#couplegoals #marriedlife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #weddingday #marriagegoals #yourestilltheone
Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍ Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍♀️

This little guy always asks to help when he sees me cleaning the house, washing the floors, doing laundry, or emptying the dishwasher. That’s what I love about Montessori parenting - it allows kids to do  big jobs and in turn makes them eager to help! 

He was over the moon when we gave him the @lovevery floor mop that actually works! He uses it daily now. The mopping pad is machine washable and you can refill the fluid container on it. I usually just do water and a drop of essential oils because he loves it when everything smells clean! 😜 

Definitely recommend! If you want to grab this mop for your little helper, it’s in the Storyteller Play Kit from Lovevery for 3 year olds. 

LlNK is in my bio to get FREE shipping! 💃🏼

#lovevery #loveverytoddler #loveverypartner #montessoriathome #montessoriplayroom #montessoritoddler
Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hol Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hole. 

Sometimes we outgrown relationships. Sometimes we realize someone else isn’t a good influence on our lives. Sometimes we realize we aren’t a good influence for someone else. Sometimes we need to let things go that aren’t good for us in order to grow. And that’s ok. 

Stop trying to sit at a table you are no longer welcome at. Just be yourself, focus on God, love your family and friends, and the right people will gravitate to you. ✌🏻 

#raisingsaints #momlife #motherhoodunplugged #selflovejourney #growingpains #selfcaresunday
When your toaster breaks from a power surge you ta When your toaster breaks from a power surge you take that as a sign that it’s time to upgrade! 🤪

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I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @en I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @enjoiya! 💃🏼 

The “Steffi” in green are the perfect boots for ushering in spring weather with their delicious vintage leather and worn-in look right out of the box. I love the chunky lug soles and inside zippers to get them on and off easily. 

These are the boots you’ll want to wear again and again. And again. 

Use my coupon code BALLARD20 to get 20% off your order! Find them on www.enjoiya.com

#leatherbooties #enjoiya #italianshoes #realmomstyle #momstyle #momstyletips
All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with the prices of eggs right now! 🤪 🐔 🥚 

Guess it’s ok to be a crazy chicken lady and have a homestead now! 🤣

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Considering he was my 6th child, it's possible he would have been here by now. It’s been extra hard for me this week. 

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My heart is completely shattered from having an empty womb and an empty nursery. An empty bassinet in the corner and unused tiny newborn outfits, all washed, folded, and ready… for nothing. 

It makes me physically sick to my stomach when I think about it all and I can't even fathom how I got here. How did I get here? 

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In an instant, my baby was gone and there was nothing I could do to change that. 

It doesn't matter how much time passes or what else happens in life, I will always miss him. My heart with always long for my baby. 

Those who haven't experienced loss tell you that "Don’t worry! Things will get better, just focus on the positive!" but people who actually know this grief and what it actually feels like to lose a baby, won’t tell you that. They know this hard road. They understand that unfortunately you don't just “get over it.” 

The grief doesn't just go away, even if you try to ignore it, it's still there. Like the sun. You don’t have to look at it to know it’s there. You can turn your back on it but it will still warm your skin. 

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And it completely shatters you when you don’t expect it. 

You don’t get over it. You don’t forget. You simply learn to live with it. And I’m learning to live with it every day. 

It’s been 137 days I’ve had to live without my baby. 

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You do not find a happy life. You make it. 

That’s the biggest lesson that grief has taught me. If I just wait around to be happy again, I’ll die sad. 

You don’t get through grief and come out the other side. That’s not how it works. You learn how to grow around it like a tree grows around a rock that’s in the way. You don’t wait for the rock to move. Cause it’s not gonna. 

Choose happy. And then make it happen. 

#choosehappy #joyinthejourney #griefjourney #healingfromtrauma
8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favor 8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favorite. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, @daeinexplains 🥰

The last 20 years with you have been my favorite years on this earth. ❤️ 

If I did anything right in my life, it was when I decided to give my heart to you.  You are my best friend, my soul mate, my better half, my rock, my everything. 

I love you.

#couplegoals #marriedlife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #weddingday #marriagegoals #yourestilltheone
Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍ Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍♀️

This little guy always asks to help when he sees me cleaning the house, washing the floors, doing laundry, or emptying the dishwasher. That’s what I love about Montessori parenting - it allows kids to do  big jobs and in turn makes them eager to help! 

He was over the moon when we gave him the @lovevery floor mop that actually works! He uses it daily now. The mopping pad is machine washable and you can refill the fluid container on it. I usually just do water and a drop of essential oils because he loves it when everything smells clean! 😜 

Definitely recommend! If you want to grab this mop for your little helper, it’s in the Storyteller Play Kit from Lovevery for 3 year olds. 

LlNK is in my bio to get FREE shipping! 💃🏼

#lovevery #loveverytoddler #loveverypartner #montessoriathome #montessoriplayroom #montessoritoddler
Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hol Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hole. 

Sometimes we outgrown relationships. Sometimes we realize someone else isn’t a good influence on our lives. Sometimes we realize we aren’t a good influence for someone else. Sometimes we need to let things go that aren’t good for us in order to grow. And that’s ok. 

Stop trying to sit at a table you are no longer welcome at. Just be yourself, focus on God, love your family and friends, and the right people will gravitate to you. ✌🏻 

#raisingsaints #momlife #motherhoodunplugged #selflovejourney #growingpains #selfcaresunday
When your toaster breaks from a power surge you ta When your toaster breaks from a power surge you take that as a sign that it’s time to upgrade! 🤪

It wasn’t hard to pick a new 4 slice toaster. As soon as I saw this one from @haden_usa I added it to my cart. I bought it from @lordandtaylor because it had the fastest shipping and I didn’t want to wait! 

No fancy electronics, screens, or extra features we don’t need. Just simple, straight forward functions and perfect results everytime. Plus it matches all my @cafeappliances too! 😂👍🏻

What do you think of this 4 slice toaster?! 

#toasters #kitchenappliances #kitchendesign #kitchendecor #whitekitchen #farmhousekitchen #farmhousestyle #whiteappliances
I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @en I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @enjoiya! 💃🏼 

The “Steffi” in green are the perfect boots for ushering in spring weather with their delicious vintage leather and worn-in look right out of the box. I love the chunky lug soles and inside zippers to get them on and off easily. 

These are the boots you’ll want to wear again and again. And again. 

Use my coupon code BALLARD20 to get 20% off your order! Find them on www.enjoiya.com

#leatherbooties #enjoiya #italianshoes #realmomstyle #momstyle #momstyletips
All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with the prices of eggs right now! 🤪 🐔 🥚 

Guess it’s ok to be a crazy chicken lady and have a homestead now! 🤣

#momlife #crazychickenlady #homesteadlife
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