Our hormones control almost every aspect of our daily lives, from our reproductive functions and our appearance to our sleep, and even the way we store and burn fat. No matter how a hormonal imbalance manifests itself on the outside, the internal reality remains the same – any and all hormonal imbalances lead to difficulty losing weight and an increased risk of obesity. Unfortunately, the most common imbalances cannot be solved by dieting alone. In fact, they can prevent successful fat loss, even when great diet and exercise plans are in place.
Most of us experience the very subtle symptoms of a hormonal imbalance every day. These are things like feeling tired after eating, having difficulty falling asleep, or waking up each night between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Or maybe you notice that you don’t wake up as fresh and bright as you used to, or you’re having food cravings every day at 3 p.m. Another sign of a hormonal imbalance is that you’ve walked into a room and can’t remember what you’re there for, or you can’t recall someone’s name as quickly as you used to. (Worried yet?) Changes in libido, mood, memory, focus, food cravings, sleep habits: All of these are signs of a hormonal imbalance – and the ones I most commonly see in my practice. More »