THE MISSING LINK TO WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Hormones & the Hidden Truth About Weight Gain

Why Can’t I Control My Weight?

I eat right, I work out … but STILL can’t budge my belly fat. What am I missing here?

Lately, I can put on pounds just looking at a sweet roll…

© David Burch

The Missing Link

Hormones Matter: Correct hormone balance is necessary to maintain healthy weight.

Know Your Symptoms: Many unaware that existing hormone imbalances contribute to weight gain and slow weight loss.

Test For Imbalances: Detecting weight-related imbalances sheds new light on causes and prevention of obesity.

Balance Your Hormones to Balance Your Weight: Obesity rates keep rising and diets aren’t working. Make the connection between diet, exercise, stress – and hormone levels.

Unlocking the Puzzle: Hormones & Weight Gain Hormones are key players in

regulating weight

Driving force behind metabolism, blood sugar, AND when and where the body stores fat

Hormones: The Key Players

Estrogen and progesterone promote healthy fat distribution in hips, thighs; Testosterone/DHEA support lean muscle and metabolic rate; Cortisol regulates

blood sugars; Thyroid regulates metabolism, Insulin, fat storage

Belly fat

Sluggish metabolism

Sugar cravings

Raging appetite

Unexplainedweight gain Fatigue +

burnout

Decreasedlibido/drive

Insomnia

Less lean muscle

Higher body fat

Emotional eating Stress

Know Symptoms of Imbalance

© David Burch

Hormonal Weight Gain in Women

PreMenopause: irregular cycles, cravings, premenstrual weight gain

PeriMenopause: erratic ovulation, shifting hormones increase stress levels and belly fat

PostMenopause: end of ovulation leads to imbalances of female/ thyroid and stress hormones; slower metabolism and steady weight gain © David Burch

Hormonal Weight Gain in Men

Loss of lean muscle/gain of “spare tire”

Female fat pattern

Low stamina/exercise tolerance

Prostate problems

39% men >45 low THIM Study 2006

What Tips the Balance? Aging: all hormones shift + decline

Chronic stress: triggers blood sugar/insulin imbalances + weight gain – belly fat in particular

Poor nutrition: causes food cravings, weight gain, insulin resistance and type II diabetes

Lack of exercise: linked to overeating + obesity, blood sugar imbalances, and loss of lean muscle mass that is replaced by fat

Xenoestrogens: endocrine disruptors that overstimulate/cause imbalance + weight gain!

© David Burch

America the Fattest

America the Fattest

America the Fattest

America the Fattest

2010

Connecting the Dots .…

Adults >40 have highest prevalence of obesity in US

This is when hormones start to shift and decline…compounded by stressors of 21st century living

© David Burch

Key Hormone Imbalances

Estrogen Dominance

Adrenal Imbalance

Thyroid Deficiency

Insulin Resistance

Vitamin D Deficiency

Estrogen Dominance

Too much Estrogen vs. too little Progesterone

Caused by history of being overweight, poor metabolism, lack of ovulation, synthetic hormone use, xenoestrogen exposure and age

Estrogen dominance makes it tough to lose and keep off those last 10-30lbs and 3-7” around the waistline

© David Burch

Estrogen Dominance & Weight

Weight gain and/or redistribution of fat primarily in hips, thighs, buttocks, breast tissue

Difficulty losing weight and then maintaining weight

Sugar/salt/fat cravings

Low thyroid symptoms: sluggish metabolism

Estrogen Dominance & Fat Cells

AROMATASE

ESTROGEN

Adrenal Imbalance

The Adrenal Glands make CORTISOL to regulate metabolism of blood sugars to fuel the body, harness energy, cope with stressors, maintain immunities.

Imbalance destabilizes blood sugars and insulin, induces appetite for refueling after stress, increases fat storage as a survival mechanism.

Adrenal Gland

Kidney

Causes of Adrenal Imbalance

Chronic stress

Diet high in sugars, carbs, caffeine

Unbalanced lifestyle

Lack of sleep

Midlife takeover

Adrenal Imbalance Affects Weight

Triggers:

Blood sugar imbalances

Food and sugar cravings

Overproduction of insulin, which increases fat storage – especially around the middle

Cortisol Connection to Belly Fat

Belly fat is the body’s answer to stress – Cortisol sends a potent signal to abdominal fat cells to store as much fat

as possible AND hold on to it!

Thyroid Deficiency

Excesses of estrogen and cortisol stress hormones inhibit thyroid function leading to sluggish metabolism and stalled weight loss

Insulin Resistance

Chronically elevated insulin levels from too much sugar, simple carbs, high glycemic foods not only pack on pounds in your belly but pave the path to TYPE 2 diabetes…

Vitamin D Deficiency

D-deficiency linked to increased abdominal fat of the more health hazardous visceral type of fat.

Framingham Heart Study follow-up data. Diabetes. 2010

What Can We Do?

Recognize signs + symptoms of hormone imbalance

Identify the specific imbalances behind unexplained weight gain

Take action to correct imbalances naturally

Test Your Hormones

Saliva + blood spot most advanced methods

Measure unbound “free” active hormone levels

Standard blood tests measure bound, inactive hormones

Saliva is gold standard for adrenal hormone testing

Balance Your Hormones

Eat: whole, hormone-free foods, fruits, vegetables, good fats, fiber

Drink: H20 – 64oz/day

Exercise: MOVE it every day

Sleep: 7+ hrs night

Stress: minimize it

Supplement: as needed

© David Burch

Balance Your Diet

Balance Your Supplements

Multivitamins/minerals

B-complex

Vitamin D3

Omega 3s

Calcium/magnesium

Adaptogenic herbs

© David Burch

Don’t Scrimp on Vitamin Zzzzzz

Minimum 7 hours a night

Lack of sleep can disrupt appetite hormones leading to increased hunger and cravings

© David Burch

Exercise not only burns calories but releases tension held in the muscles to help normalize cortisol

Strength training boosts Testosterone/DHEA and lean muscle to lower body/belly fat!

Balance Your Exercise

© David Burch© David Burch

Balance Your Stress

Chronic stress raises cortisol . . .

Which raises blood sugar . . .

Which raises insulin . . .

Which raises fat storage especially around the middle!

© David Burch

Say NO to XENOS . . .

Go green, organic

Hormone-free, BPA-free etc.

Earth friendly gardening

No heating in plastics

Fiber, water, crucifers clear xenos to promote healthy hormone metabolism

. . . and YES to Bioidenticals

Hormones made to mimic Mother Nature rebalance hormone levels with fewer side effects

© David Burch

The Missing Link This is no longer just about

calories in, calories out.

Detecting and correcting the hormone culprits behind unwanted weight gain is the missing link to weight management.

~ Candace Burch, M.A. Hormone Health Educator

Q&A

Thank You!Merci!

Gracias!Grazie!Danke!

Images provided courtesy of www.davidburchphotography.com