Contrary to popular belief, the number on the scale isn’t just a reflection of the number of calories we burn versus the amount we consume. Many are surprised to learn that the stress brought on by excessive exercise and extreme dieting can undermine our weight loss efforts. Often the universal obstacle that prevents the loss of stubborn and unwanted belly fat, as well as regaining vitality and an overall sense of well-being, begins with your hormones.
The calorie-in/calorie-out hypothesis has been widely disproven and remains one of the public’s greatest misconceptions about diet and weight loss. Calories do count, but hormone levels play one of the most influential roles regarding body composition. A startling portion of the public that struggles with weight loss also have a hormone imbalance of some sort. Every steroid hormone the human body produces is derived from cholesterol. When the body recognizes a hormone deficiency, it stores larger portions of the cholesterol that we consume in an attempt to provide the body more of what it’s lacking. Additionally, hormones control how efficiently the body breaks down and metabolizes calories. Once hormone levels are optimized, patients quickly begin to notice an improvement in body composition and cholesterol values.
If you are dealing with unwanted weight gain that doesn’t seem to improve with exercise and a balanced diet, it could be due to a hormone imbalance. Take our hormone quiz to determine if you are a potential candidate for hormone optimization.
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