Cortisol, Stress and Weight

stress1Researchers have begun to link stress with weight gain and according to a survey by the American Psychological Association, nearly ¼ of Americans consider their stress levels at the level of 8 on a scale of 10.

Bottom line is…stress can and does shut down appetites. When we are stressed, the brain sends out messages to the adrenal glands to pump out the hormone epinephrine…known also as adrenaline. Epinephrine helps trigger the body’s important fight-or-flight response that temporarily puts eating on hold. [Read more…]

Balanced Hormones are Key Players in Weight Loss Resistance

Hormonal-BalanceBalance creates peace, harmony and stability in our lives and this same concept carries over to our health and diets. Science has discovered that there is a hidden “key” to losing excess weight and it has very little to do with calorie input or willpower.

Hormones are the key players here, governing nearly everything…stress levels, sexual activity and immune response.

When our biological systems are working in metabolic balance it is called “homeostasis”. When our weight is normal, our sleep patterns good, we’re exercising regularly, experiencing little to no stress in our lives, no depression nor chronic pain we are considered to be in a state of hormonal balance. [Read more…]

Leptin Resistance and Weight Loss

leptinYour body needs two important hormones functioning properly if you hope to lose that excess weight you might be carrying around. These two important weight loss hormones are insulin and leptin.

Insulin’s job is to control sugar and fat levels in the body, while leptin’s job is to burn fat. Leptin is one of the many hormones that regulate energy in your body…it also tells you when you’re full. As you gain more weight, you produce more leptin which is supposed to tell you to when to “stop eating”. [Read more…]