If the solution to ‘losing’ weight was really as simple as just eating less and exercising more, very few people would actually struggle with a weight problem.
HORMONE BALANCE AND FAT STORAGE
The real key behind permanent weight reduction is unlocked by hormonal balance. Hormones control your metabolism. Your stress hormones affect your ability to release weight and determine how efficiently you will store fat. Until your hormone balance is restored, your search for lasting ‘weight loss’ is doomed to remain an elusive quest.
WEIGHT LOSS MYTHS
Myth #1: You must eat low fat.
Fat is highest in calories. ‘Bad’ fats are bad for you, since they cause heart disease and obesity. However, ‘good’ fats are essential for your health. Good fat helps you make hormones that assist your metabolism and regulate your fat storing ability.
The right amount of good fats and cholesterol is an essential precursor to your body’s ability to make cortisol, DHEA, progesterone, testosterone and estrogen.
Good fats in your diet are vital for healthy skin, to lower heart disease and protect your brain. You need to eat good fats every day. So add almonds, walnuts, olives and avocados to your food choices.
Myth #2: I have to count my calories carefully; and the lower the better.
Yes, the higher the number you take in; the harder you have to work to burn them off. But if you eat too few calories, your body will actually slow down your metabolism. In fact, you can even create a stress response in your body by ‘starving’ yourself. However, when your metabolic hormones are balanced, you can stop worrying about counting calories.
Myth #3: I can drink diet pop instead of water. I hate water, and anyway; it’s zero calories.
Aspartame and most artificial sweeteners still stimulate your insulin response which causes your body to store fat more efficiently. So there is no point in remaining smitten with any dietary benefit of diet pop.
HORMONES THAT AFFECT WEIGHT
1. Thyroid hormone.
Thyroid hormone is crucial to regulate your metabolism.
Free T3 is the main regular of cellular energy and metabolism.
Doctors, including endocrinologists are taught to monitor your TSH (the stimulating hormone from your brain).
However, there is no cellular recptor for TSH, so looking at that level gives us no real idea of what your actual metabolic hormones are doing and if you have adequate levels at a cellular level.
If you have ever blamed your hormones, and your thyroid especially, for stumping your weight ‘loss’ efforts – you are probably right.
If your doctor keeps telling you that your tests are normal; you are STILL probably right.
What most doctors do not know about is the critical triad of cortisol-thyroid-insulin. (stress-metabolism-sugar)
What we are also not taught at medical school is how certain toxins and chemicals block the receptor site on your cells at which thyroid hormone must work.
Please email client services to receive a hormone questionaire and discover if hormone imbalance is the cause of your weight problems.
2. Cortisol
Cortisol is your stress hormone. It allows you to continue to escape from a stressor. (Adrenaline is your initial hormone that makes you ‘fight or flee’ before cortisol takes over). Cortisol facilitates the release of stored energy.
When under constant stress, you will release more energy. Are you always using up this energy? If your stress is usually an attack that you have to escape from, then probably not. So, if you are stressed while sitting at your desk, or sleeping; and you are releasing energy that you are not using; your body will create fat from that energy. Unfortunately, it is possible to make fat while you sleep!
3. Insulin
Insulin regulates your blood sugar. It takes excess sugar and stores it as fat. That energy your cortisol is releasing while you are worrying about your problems – can actually get converted into fat, including belly fat!
Eating foods that quickly convert into sugar will also help you store fat more efficiently. So feed your body foods that take a long time to digest. Natural whole foods are best. Choose low glycemic index foods in your weight reduction strategy.
4. Testosterone
Both men and women require testosterone for maximum energy. With adequate amounts of testosterone, you can build muscle and maintain it. Testosterone is made by the testicles, ovaries and adrenal glands. Testosterone levels are optimised with regular exercise.
5. Growth Hormone (GH)
Growth hormone helps repair and regenerate tissues. Exercise helps optimise growth hormone. It is not necessary to replace growth hormone until much later in life. Usually, your levels can be low if you do not sleep well; or if your cortisol is too high. So strive to get good sleep and regular exercise, eat good quality protein and supplement it with a balance of amino acids to ensure your body can maintain adequate GH levels.
If you have weight loss problems or weight control issues, ask for our help. Contact Better Medical Centre (formerly Chronos Apollo) today. Call (403) 237 – 2353 or e-mail client services
