When it comes to fat loss, there are many variables at play. Fundamentally, it is an energy balance game, calories in vs calories out. However, there are many things that effect that balance both directly and indirectly. Hormones are often the overlooked, under-appreciated component of overall health and wellness. Hormones could also be the culprit behind your lack of fat loss success.
When it comes to hormones, it’s important to take a look at the big picture. Looking at one specific hormone doesn’t always tell the whole story. Hormones work synergistically with each other and the brain to make sure the body is functioning properly.
Let’s dig into the nitty gritty and see if we can uncover the reasons behind your fat loss struggle.
Thyroid Hormones
The thyroid is often called the “Master Gland.” It is responsible for regulating all of the body’s hormones, in one way or another. From a hormone standpoint, the thyroid gland is the place to start. Below is a list of the most common symptoms related to thyroid problems.
Most Common Symptoms of an Under Active Thyroid
- Weight Gain or Inability to Lose Weight
- Feeling of Fatigue Even with Adequate Sleep
- Anxiety, Depression, Mood Swings
- Brain Fog, Poor Memory
- Constipation
- Muscle Pain/Fatigue, Joint Pain
While these symptoms are common among other conditions, if you are experiencing the above symptoms it would be a good idea to go get some blood work done and check your thyroid levels. Thyroid conditions, such as Hashimoto’s, are some of the most under diagnosed conditions.
There are many natural ways to help improve your thyroid function. Many times simple, dietary and/or supplemental changes can help improve thyroid performance. However, if you an underlying genetic condition, such as Hashimoto’s, medication may be required. But, good news, once the medication is properly dosed, thyroid will be able to function properly.
They thyroid is the place to start, when it comes to hormones. You’ll be able to get a good read on how your body is functioning, hormonally, by taking a look at thyroid function.
Hunger & Appetite Hormones: Leptin & Ghrelin
Leptin is often referred to as the “satiety hormone” and/or the “starvation hormone.”
Leptin and Ghrelin are the two energy balance hormones. They tell your body when you’re in a caloric need (hunger) and when you’re in body has sufficient calories (satiety). Leptin looks at the bigger picture, viewing the long term caloric state of the body. While Ghrelin is more the short-term, single meal trigger.
These hormones follow a cycle, similar to your circadian rhythm. Once it gets out of whack, it’ll take some time to get back into the proper cycle.
Reseting Leptin & Ghrelin
- Eat as many real foods as possible. Many times people who consume a lot prepackaged and processed foods disrupt the bodies natural digestive process. Many of those types of food are filled with harsh chemicals and the body doesn’t always know what to do with it. These will sometimes trigger your brain to think you need more food even though you’ve just consumed plenty of calories.
- Limiting your carbohydrates. Excessive carbohydrate intake can really throw off hormone regulation, especially the appetite regulating hormone as leptin and ghrelin.
- Eat 3 healthy meals a day. Sometimes the smaller, more frequent meals can cause an increase in appetite and have you always searching for food. Focus on eating three healthy meals per day. You may even want to look into an intermittent fasting (IF) routine. There is some data to support that IF can help to regulate hormone levels.
Implement these three steps for the next few weeks. It may be a tough transition, at first, but don’t give in to the immediate pain. Keep the big picture in mind and know that you’ll be better for it in the long run. Getting leptin and ghrelin under control will be greatly beneficial to achieving and sustaining your fat loss.
The Stress Hormone
Cortisol is a catabolic hormone, meaning that it breaks down tissues. Cortisol is often a frowned upon hormone but it shouldn’t be this way. After all, cortisol is the hormone that breaks down fat. You never want to completely eliminate cortisol. However, you do want to manage it and not allow it to get too high.
Controlling Cortisol
- Plenty of Sleep
- Proper Caloric Deficit
- Proper amount of exercise
- Minimize Overall Stress (work, life, etc)
The proper caloric deficit, along with the appropriate amount of exercise will vary from person to person. Severe caloric restriction is probably to most common reason for elevated cortisol levels. However, in this state, muscle is the primary target of cortisol. The muscle loss will result in slowed metabolism, making your fat loss efforts that much harder.
To minimize stress, consider taking up a mediation practice. This practice doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can be as simple as writing down three things you’re thankful for, first thing in the morning. It’s impossible to be sad, or angry at the same time of having a feeling of gratitude. So, opt for a feeling of gratitude at every opportunity!
Resistance Training & Hormones
Metabolism is a word that gets thrown around a lot. You hear about a lot of different ways to increase your metabolism. But, the most effective way to increase your metabolism is to build muscle.
Maintaining muscle is a very calorically expensive process. It burns many more calories to maintain muscle than it does to maintain fat. So, if you’re looking to increase your metabolism and thus, your fat-loss efforts, adding a little bit of muscle would be a great idea.
Don’t feel like you have to add slabs of muscle to increase your metabolic rate. You’d probably be surprised what adding just a little bit of muscle could do to enhance your metabolism and physique.
Both men and women have testosterone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), growth hormone, among others. These hormones affect the muscle building process. It’s important to take the necessary steps to regulate these muscle building/maintaining hormones.
Women have lower levels, than men, of testosterone and other muscle building hormones. It’s imperative that women incorporate a resistance/ strength training routine to help set their body’s up, hormonally, to build muscle.
Regulating Hormones
- Resistance/Strength Training (2-3 days/week)
- Proper Protein Intake
With resistance/strength training, focus on the compound lifts, such as dead lift, squat, over-head press. These exercises work the larger muscle groups and be the most affective way of building muscle.
Protein intake will vary based on individual needs but when it comes to protein, it’s always a good idea to error on the side of too much. “Too much” protein is not harmful to the kidneys and protein is utilized for much more than just building muscle.
Supplementing the Solution
To further help the natural remedies discusses above, The Bliss Go Pack will help stack the deck in your favor. The Bliss Go Pack looks to address all of the problems women face when trying to drop fat, gain energy, and just feel better.
Coleous Forskohli (CF) is an ingredient that helps release fatty acids into the bloodstream. CF operates by targeting the thyroid directly. And, as you already know, the thyroid is a critical component of optimal hormone levels. CF will help your thyroid function more efficiently.
Ashwagandha is another critical ingredient in the Bliss Go Pack. Ashwagandha helps increase your overall sense of well-being and can help control excessive stress levels. As previously mentioned, it’s necessary to keep stress low to sustain your fat loss efforts.
But, when it comes to weight loss, there is not just one thing to look at. You must look at the big picture and consider all variables. The Bliss Go Pack does just that. It places a huge emphasis on addressing the overall picture of fat loss.
The Bliss Go Pack addresses the hormone balance issue, energy boosting issue, and appetite issues. The Bliss Go Pack isn’t just a “diet” or “energy” pill. The Thyro-Drive works to help naturally optimize the function o your thyroid. When taking, you can expect to see your thyroid function increase with no adverse affects.
Opti-Core works to target excess stress in your body. Optic-Core works to decrease high cortisol levels and maintain a healthy level of stress. To ensure that the Bliss Go Pack works around the clock for you, you’ll take it in three different doses.
[Dose 1]
2 capsules of Thyro-Drive
1-2 capsules of Bliss (start w/ 1 capsule and work your way to 2)
Drink 16 oz of water
Eat a meal 15-45 minutes later
[Dose 2]
2 capsules of Thyro-Drive
1-2 capsules of Bliss (start w/ 1 capsule and work your way to 2)
Drink 16 oz of water
Eat a meal 15-45 minutes later
[Nightly Dose]
3 capsules of Opti-Core about 45 minutes before you want to fall asleep
Drink 16 0z of water
Ladies, you may have been lied to about your weight loss efforts. If this is the first time you’re hearing of hormones potentially being the culprit behind your lack of fat loss, you’ve been lied to, my friend.
No worries though. Take the information and advice in this article and begin your journey to real results.
Consider taking the Bliss Go Pack to help increase your efforts further!
[1] Klok, M.D., Jakobsdottir, S., and Drent, M.L. “The role of leptin and ghrelin in the regulation of food intake and body weight in humans: a review.” Department of Endocrinology, VU University Medical Center. Jan 8(1):21-34. doi:10.1111/j.1467-789X.2006.00270.x
One reply on “Hormones: The Secret Reason You’re Not Losing Weight!”
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