Yes, it actually IS your hormones … but probably not what you think.
The most frustrating feeling in the world is doing a whole bunch of things right … and not making the progress you want.
It’s demoralizing and that’s typically when you start to entertain the thoughts of “why even bother” or “F this.”
In these moments, it’s easy to feel like something is fundamentally wrong with you.
I know, because that was me. I used to think that I just couldn’t be helped for whatever reason.
You may have even assumed that you are some hormonal anomaly.
Yes! It HAS to be my hormones!
Here’s the reality …
It actually IS your hormones, but not the way you think.
Look, it would be foolish to ignore the roll that hormones play in sustainable fat loss.
The issue is that most people actually do just that … they ignore the impact that trying to lose fat has on their hormones.
You see, by restricting calories or eliminating entire food groups like carbs or going very low fat, you ARE comprising your hormonal state.
Not only that, but you’re creating a sponge-like environment for your body to pack on fat when you inevitably can’t restrict anymore.
Going very low calorie or depriving yourself will come at a cost … slower metabolism, low thyroid, depressed immune system, irregular cortisol, insulin resistance, low sex hormones, increased hunger hormones … ya know, just to name a few.
Then, you add on the restrict and binge cycles that likely ensue and you’ve got a perfect storm for weight gain.
The good new is … the situation is not as dire as you may think.
You’re not broken. You’re not a hormonal anomaly (most likely), and you don’t need to be “fixed.”
You don’t need a whole bunch of supplements or a hormonal “reset.”
You simply need to stop doing the thing that’s causing the issue.
Sounds simple, right?
Well, it took me almost 10 years to learn that lesson, so maybe it’s simple in theory but not in application.
The bottom line is this … you can’t keep restricting yourself and chronically under eating if you want to be healthy, fit, and actually have a life.
If you’ve been restricting for long enough, you may have some hormonal issues to consider.
For example, my thyroid is still low from my years of chronic dieting.
However, it doesn’t mean I can’t make progress. It means I REALLY can’t restrict or over-stress my body.
I can still lose fat, I can still remain lean, and I can still enjoy plenty of flexibility.
And no … I don’t need to go super low calorie, or eliminate carbs, or go crazy low fat, or stop eating sugar, or anything extreme.
I just need to NOT under eat all the time.
Then, when I want to get leaner, my body is primed to lose fat and I can continue to send the “safety” signal to my body with days or weeks at maintenance.
Essentially, I have to follow the exact same process that we put our clients through.
Starting with metabolic priming.
Which is eating ENOUGH calories so your body feels safe in letting go of unwanted body fat.
Stress can cause issues with hormones.
The stress signal that occurs from always under eating is what causes the hormonal issues in the first place. So, let’s address the root cause and stop doing that.
Our clients are always amazed at how eating more is actually what helps them feel better, stay more consistent, and break through plateaus after years of struggling.
Then, we have to consider the right balance and ratios of macros based on your goals and your training.
This helps with performance and recovery which are key in changing body composition. It allows us to specifically target body fat and maintain muscle (or build more muscle if that’s your goal).
The key to stress reduction and mood stability is eating the right foods based on your brain chemistry which we learn from your personality type.
Our clients often comment that this helps them stay more consistent with less effort. So, once again, their hormones stay happy and healthy and their bodies respond better. Win-win.
We also make sure they have enough freedom and flexibility to make this a true lifestyle approach.
That’s why we get messages daily from our clients who are able to go on vacations, date nights, social events, etc. and still make progress.
They are always mind blown. We love to see it but it’s the norm for us :).
Lastly, we tie it all together by monitoring daily stressors and habits that all contribute to sustainable fat loss. This allows us to know exactly what’s working and what needs to be adjusted for our clients to reach their goals while maintaining hormonal health.
This is why our clients typically average between 20-30 lbs. of fat loss while completely repairing their relationship with food and never feeling the need to restrict or deprive themselves ever again.
It’s what makes the POP Method (our signature, 6-month, 1:1 coaching program) so effective.
If you’re interested in seeing if the program is a good fit for you, shoot me a PM on FB.
We’ll have a quick chat and if we both agree it’s a fit, then we can get started right away!
