The winter can be a horrible time for anybody trying to lose weight and eat healthily. There is Thanksgiving, Christmas plus New Year’s parties. Each on its own is a day that you pack on more calories than you normally would eat in two days. But the holiday season squeezes three major social events — and eating events — into a period of fewer than 45 days.
Now that the holidays are over, you’re probably feeling worn down and maybe even lethargic. Plus, even though the leftovers are gone and you are back to eating as you normally would, the ‘holiday weight’ isn’t coming off. If anything, you feel like you’re gaining. And even if the scale doesn’t say so, you feel like your body isn’t functioning like it normally would. What gives?
Hormonal changes––that’s what. As you get older, your hormones begin to fluctuate. Like it or not, this is part of the natural aging process but left unmanaged, it can be downright uncomfortable. Hormones affect every single system in your body. And when your body starts producing fewer and fewer hormones, you experience a variety of changes, from weight gain and fatigue to trouble focusing and mood changes. If you’re suffering from the effects of a hormonal imbalance, you won’t want to miss our upcoming session on January 17 at 1 p.m., titled “Hormones and Cardio-Metabolic Health: What does your expanding waistline say about your need for hormones.”
Hormones affect your body’s systems and how you feel, particularly after the age of 40. If you’re entering middle age, this is an event you don’t want to miss. Whether you’re a man who’s suffering from low testosterone or a woman struggling with low estrogen levels, adults need hormones to stay at normal levels to remain healthy and fit as they get older.
If those hormones start dropping, you’re also more likely to experience health problems. For example, Low testosterone in men is often an indicator of cardiovascular disease. Low testosterone also increases your risk of coronary artery disease, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. In addition, low testosterone is associated with excess abdominal fat and loss of insulin sensitivity. For women, low levels of estrogen can result in an increase in urinary tract infections, irregular or absent periods, mood swings and hot flashes, plus headaches and increased more painful migraines.
As you can see, hormones play a major role in your overall health and fitness. That’s why we’ve booked a group of experts to discuss hormonal imbalances and to share their expertise.
Our session on January 17 will be hosted by Nancy Scheinost, MD, and Amanda Carlile, FNP. Dr. Scheinost has been in private practice for almost a quarter-century and is one of the few certified Functional Medicine practitioners in Rheumatology through the Institute for Functional Medicine. Amanda pursued her nursing degree at the University of Missouri through the accelerated program, then attended Baylor University and got her Masters’ of Science in Nursing. She then became board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
You will want to stop by and listen to both Dr. Scheinost and Amanda if you fall into either of these categories:
• Anyone, women or men, who are considering HRT or using HRT in any form. For men with unnaturally low levels of testosterone, they can benefit from HRT, but it is less certain whether or not HRT can benefit healthy men whose testosterone decline is because of the natural aging process; it is less clear what the true benefits are compared to what the HRT benefits are for women. For women, the benefits of hormone therapy if you experience early menopause can outweigh any risks, especially if you have premature menopause before age 40.
• Anyone concerned about their expanding waistline and rising LDL, or low-density lipoproteins that are sometimes called “bad” cholesterol, because a high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. As people age, they are more likely to gain weight, which can raise cholesterol levels, and having more body fat is linked to unhealthy cholesterol levels.
Call our main office today at 972-930-0260 or visit livingwelldallas.com to learn even more about this class and if you may be a candidate for hormone replacement therapy based on your health profile and other factors. The January 17th session is a ‘lunch and learn’ format so you get clear, easy to understand information in a relaxed atmosphere that stimulates the exchange of information. If you haven’t been feeling yourself lately and you suspect a hormonal imbalance may be to blame, this is an event you don’t want to miss.
Whether we set you on the road to greater peace of mind and security with a pathway to a better, more stable life, or we help keep you at your best emotionally, we can help you figure out how to get started Living Well again. We look forward to seeing you on January 17!