If you’re a woman over 40, the topic of hormones is one that seems to come up a lot.
And it’s true that hormonal health plays a massive role in pretty much every aspect of our overall health and wellbeing, from our energy levels, to our mood, to our ability to lose weight and keep it off.
But even if you understand hormones in a general sense, you might still be wondering what they actually are, how they work, and how you can get your own hormones to start working FOR you, rather than against you.
So let’s talk about it.
The Role of Hormones in Health & Weight Loss
The reality is that hormones play a HUGE role in our overall health and well-being, and are responsible for regulating pretty much every major bodily function we have.
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They’re the chemical messengers that tell our cells what to do and how to do it. They affect everything from our energy levels, to our mood, to our appetite, to our metabolism, to our ability to get a good night’s sleep.
When our hormones are in balance, everything runs smoothly. But when they’re out of whack, it can throw our entire system out of balance, leading to all sorts of health problems and issues.
And what a lot of people don’t understand about hormones is that they’re all interconnected, and they all work together. That means that when ONE of our hormones gets out of whack, it throws everything off.
And unfortunately, because of the way our modern lifestyle and diet has changed over the past few decades, hormonal imbalances have become increasingly common. Things like chronic stress, lack of sleep, processed foods, and environmental toxins can all wreak havoc on our hormones, leading to weight gain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and a whole host of other health issues.
And then for women, especially women over 40, it gets even worse because as we get older, as you probably know, our hormones start changing A LOT. This is when perimenopause and menopause really come into play and make the other hormonal issues we’re already dealing with that much worse.
And so if you feel like your metabolism has suddenly just STOPPED WORKING and no matter WHAT you do or what you try, you just can’t lose the excess weight, you’re not imagining it. Your body has basically created the perfect storm of hormonal crisis and it’s natural protective response to that crisis is to STORE FAT.
And so, when it comes to getting healthy and losing weight, it’s absolutely crucial that we address these underlying hormonal imbalances.
And there’s probably no hormone more important (or more misunderstood) than the hormone INSULIN.
What is Insulin?
In a nutshell, insulin is a hormone that’s produced by an organ in our bodies called the pancreas. It’s responsible for regulating our blood sugar levels and plays a key role in metabolism, as well as in the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates.
Whenever we eat food, especially carbohydrates, our blood sugar levels rise, and that triggers the release of insulin, which then helps to move that sugar out of the bloodstream and into our cells, where it can be used for energy.
And while that might sound like a good thing, and in many ways it is, especially when our bodies are functioning properly, the issue is that when we eat a lot of processed foods and simple carbohydrates, like sugar and white flour and highly processed seed oils, it causes our blood sugar levels to spike more frequently and for longer periods of time. And the more our blood sugar spikes, the more insulin our bodies have to produce to deal with that spike.
And over time, when we’re constantly eating these types of high-carb, processed foods, our bodies develop a condition called INSULIN RESISTANCE, which means our cells stop responding to insulin the way they’re supposed to.
And that’s a big problem, because it means that our bodies are no longer able to effectively regulate our blood sugar levels, and all that extra sugar just ends up getting stored as fat.
Insulin as the “Fat Storage Hormone”
And that’s why insulin has often been called the “fat storage hormone,” because when we have too much of it, and our bodies are not able to use it properly, it causes us to gain weight, and makes it really difficult for us to lose that weight.
And that’s also why, if you’re trying to lose weight, it’s so important to address any underlying insulin resistance or hormonal imbalances you might have.
But before we talk about how to do that, and how to actually get your insulin working FOR you, rather than against you, I think it would be helpful to better understand some of the most common causes of insulin resistance, and why it’s become such a big problem in our society today.
Because if you’re wondering why there is an obesity epidemic in this country, why 80% of adults and more than 50% of teens are now considered overweight and why we just keep getting fatter and fatter and fatter, this is the reason.
Everything we’re all eating all the time is making us sick and fat.
Causes of Insulin Resistance
Because the reality is that insulin resistance is a huge problem, and it’s one that’s only getting worse. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 88% of adults in the US have some degree of insulin resistance, and that 34% of all adults in the US are actually diabetic. And those numbers are projected to double by 2030.
So how did we get here? What are the most common causes of insulin resistance, and why is it such a big problem?
Well, according to Dr. Benjamin Bikman, the author of the book, Why We Get Sick, which I highly, highly recommend reading, there are actually a number of factors that are contributing to the insulin resistance epidemic.
The first and most obvious one, which I already mentioned a few minutes ago, is our diet. The standard American diet, which is high in processed foods, simple carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats, is a recipe for disaster when it comes to insulin resistance. These types of foods cause our blood sugar levels to spike, which in turn leads to more insulin production, and eventually our bodies just can’t keep up.
But it’s not just our diet that’s the problem. Our modern lifestyle in general is wreaking havoc on our hormones, and specifically on our insulin levels. Things like chronic stress, lack of sleep, and exposure to environmental toxins can all contribute to insulin resistance.
And then there’s also the issue of genetics. Some people are just more predisposed to insulin resistance than others, and so if you have a family history of diabetes or other insulin-related issues, you’re more likely to be at risk.
Finally, there are certain demographic and socioeconomic factors that can also contribute to insulin resistance. For example, people of Hispanic, African, or Asian descent are more likely to develop insulin resistance, as are people who live in poverty or who don’t have access to healthy, affordable food options.
So those are some of the most common causes of insulin resistance. But what can you actually do about it? How do you start to reverse insulin resistance and get your hormones back in balance? And how do you use insulin to your advantage, rather than letting it work against you?
The Role of Insulin in Weight Loss
And honestly, it’s not always a simple answer, because there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all solution. Because while it’s true that we can all benefit from eating a healthier diet and making better choices for our overall health, the reality is that we all have slightly different needs and slightly different metabolisms.
And not only that, but there are also many different factors that can contribute to insulin resistance, so what works for one person may not necessarily work for someone else.
But the good news is that regardless of your individual circumstances and health history, there ARE things you can do to improve your insulin sensitivity and support your body in regulating its blood sugar levels more effectively. And in doing so, you can start to see some real changes in your weight, energy levels, and overall well-being.
And believe it or not, these changes can start to happen pretty fast—faster than you might realize. Not only that, you can actually heal your body and reverse insulin WITHOUT the use of medication and pharmaceuticals, which is a good thing, because most of the drugs out there today are not designed to HEAL you, but to reduce your symptoms so that you become DEPENDENT on them.
And to me that’s not a solution.
So what can you do?
Changing What You Eat
Well, first and foremost, the most important thing you can do to reverse insulin resistance is CHANGE THE WAY YOU EAT.
And maybe that seems too simple to actually be true, but I PROMISE you there is nothing that will be more effective then actually changing the way you eat.
And when I say change the way you eat, what I DON’T mean is the standard diet advice that you’re probably getting from your doctor and all the other so-called experts that is absolute garbage.
Because they’ll probably tell you STUPID things like you should lower your calories and reduce your saturated fat intake and eat less red meat and watch the salt and eat more whole grains.
Right?!
Don’t do that. Don’t do ANY of that.
Instead, change the way you eat to focus your diet on a few simple but important things.
First, getting lots of NUTRIENT DENSE PROTEIN from eating MEAT—especially red meat, which is the MOST nutrient dense food you can eat.
Second, load up on HEALTHY FATS—natural, unprocessed fats that come from animal products and things like avocados, coconuts, nuts, and olives.
Third, eat WHOLE FOODS, the way that nature created them—again, lots of meat and low-glycemic, non-starchy fruits and vegetables.
Fourth, AVOID all the processed crap! Basically don’t even shop in the middle aisles of your grocery store—or as I like to refer to them—the poison aisles.
Because that’s really what they are. Toxic poison to your body. All the ultra refined carbohydrates, the high fructose corn syrup, the processed seed and vegetable oils. it’s all poison and it’s killing you slowly.
But the thing is, when you’re eating this way, you DON’T have to worry about calories or eating TOO MUCH. You just have to eat the right things.
And I know that’s so hard for a lot of people to understand, but it’s really true.
Because weight loss isn’t about calories, it’s about HORMONES.
Practical Tips for Getting Started
So what are some practical tips for actually getting started with a healthier diet that will help you reduce insulin resistance and heal your body?
Well, first and foremost, I think it’s important to remember that this is a JOURNEY, not a destination. You don’t have to change everything overnight, and in fact, it’s probably better if you don’t. Because the truth is that radical, overnight changes to your diet are rarely sustainable, and they can also be a big shock to your system.
So instead, I would recommend taking a gradual approach. Start by just being more MINDFUL of what you’re actually eating. Start avoiding the processed crap and instead focusing on more whole foods, nutrient dense proteins, and healthy fats. And focus on finding healthy, low-carb recipes that you actually enjoy, so that you’re not feeling deprived.
That said, as you make these changes, I think it’s also important to be patient with yourself, and to give yourself a little bit of grace. If you have a bad day, or you go out to eat and eat something that’s not super healthy, it’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up. Just focus on doing a little bit better the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that.
It’s like I always say….big goals NEVER happen all at once! They are only the result of small steps taken consistently over time.
And honestly, if you can just start to make some of these changes—even if they’re small changes—you’ll be well on your way to healing your body and reducing insulin resistance, because at the end of the day, it really is about progress, not perfection.
And if you want HELP with making these changes in your life, and an actual PLAN for exactly what to do and how to make it work, then you should definitely check out our TAS program.The best way to find out more is to watch our free training. It’s called Healthy, Happy & Free and it will explain exactly how our program works and WHY it works, and how you can map out your own personalized plan to reach your health and weight loss goals. You can find it HERE.