Are you having trouble losing those extra pounds? You're taking all the right steps by counting calories and being consistent with your exercise routine, but the scale just won't budge.
What's going on? Here are a couple of things you might consider: Are you eating the right foods? Are your hormones in balance? If you are a "calorie counter" you may be consuming the weight loss standard of 1200 calories a day.
But if those calories do not consist of good quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, then they are empty calories and they will not help you loss that excess weight.
Empty calories such Doritos and Twinkies deplete the body of nutrition without giving anything back.
Without good nutrition, your body does not have the materials it needs to make the hormones you need! If your body cannot make hormones, then it cannot be in balance.
So focus on adding foods with good fats such as salmon, walnuts, and avocados to your diet.
Pair them with dark leafy greens such as kale or spinach and snack on vitamin-rich fruits such blueberries and bananas to give your body the nutrients it needs to stay in balance.
So which hormones does our body use to stay in balance and help us achieve and maintain a healthy weight? The thyroid gland produces hormones that control how your body converts nutrients into energy and therefore drives your metabolism.
Weight gain can be an indicator of an under-active thyroid gland or hypothyroidism.
When the thyroid gland is under-active, your metabolism is not burning as many calories as it normally would.
You also do not have as much energy, which can make it harder to get out and exercise.
Other indicators of thyroid problems include dry skin, brittle nails, achy joints, and constipation.
The adrenal glands produce cortisol - a hormone that is elevated in stressful situations.
Some of us lead such stressful lives that our cortisol levels are always high.
Eating fast food and simple carbs stresses the adrenal glands, which increases cortisol levels and leads to insulin resistance and weight gain, especially around the mid-section.
Conversely, if you are not producing enough cortisol, you may have trouble getting out of bed in the morning or may not have enough energy throughout the day.
When we're tired and sluggish, we tend to crave sugar and simple carbs because they give us quick energy.
Ironically, the sugar and simple carbs deplete the adrenal glands making us even more tired and sluggish.
And of course, we can forget about our sex hormones.
Whether you are male or female, the right balance of sex hormones is important for more than your libido.
Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are all key in getting and keeping the weight off.
Adrenal problems can affect the synthesis of sex hormones.
The adrenals produce large amounts of DHEA, which is converted to testosterone and estrogen.
Stressed adrenal glands produce too much DHEA and depleted adrenal glands don't produce enough.
Weight gain may be a symptom of too much estrogen or too little progesterone in women or not enough testosterone in men.
Testosterone helps maintain lean muscle mass and low levels are also linked to lack of motivation in men.
It is very difficult to obtain and maintain hormone balance without lifestyle modification.
Everyone needs to manage stress in their lives, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly.
Make sure that you are getting proper nutritional supplementation including adrenal and thyroid support.
When your body is in balance nutritionally and hormonally, then it can balance itself physically.
You will be surprised how the weight just falls off.