Do Hormones Cause Weight Gain? - Day 57

Is it really your hormones, or is something else happening beneath the surface?Today we’re kicking off two weeks on women’s hormones, perimenopause, menopause, metabolism and body recomposition after 35, using Mayo Clinic’s recent article The Reality of Menopause and Weight Gain and findings from the SWAN study.Here’s the part women need to hear: hormonal changes can influence belly fat distribution, muscle mass, sleep, appetite and body composition, but hormones do not make fat loss impossible.We break down why midlife weight can creep up, why your body may look dramatically different even when the scale hasn’t changed much, how losing muscle changes your energy needs, and why perimenopause and menopause require a much more nuanced conversation than “it’s just your hormones.”Plus, I’m previewing what’s coming this week: thyroid function, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, perimenopause and menopause.Your hormones matter. They just aren’t the whole story.

Ready to stop guessing? Train with me inside the RAC Collective. Your workouts, progress photos, measurements and weight trends, all in one place.

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 RAC Recomposition Targets

1. ​ Track the trend. Choose an app and begin consistently logging your body weight. Look at trends, not individual weigh-ins.​ Protect your muscle. Schedule at least 2 strength-training sessions this week. Put the exact days on your calendar now.​ Track your symptoms. Write down changes in your cycle, sleep, hunger, waist circumference, weight, strength and energy. Add a tally each time a symptom occurs. Data is power.

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Hormones confusing you? Follow the show. We’re just getting started.