Some of you may know that I recently found out I have a hormone imbalance. I have probably had it for a significant amount of time (over a few years) but never really thought to look into it.
As you may know, I always talk about how a hormone imbalance can cause weight gain. I have been experiencing weight gain and difficult losing weight, and it wasnāt until I did a bit of research that I suspected I might actually have a hormone imbalance.
I know there are probably many of you experiencing the same thing and donāt even realize that you have a hormone imbalance. So I wanted to share what I have learned in the hope that it might help some of you too!
WHAT IS A HORMONE IMBALANCE
The most common one (that I have) and that most young women experience is a progesterone deficiency. Your estrogen levels could also be too high in comparison to your progesterone levels. They need to be balanced.
WHAT ARE ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE?
These hormones are secreted by the ovaries and contribute to a womanās menstrual cycle and fertility.
Here are some of the effects of estrogen and progesterone.
| Estrogen | Progesterone |
| Increases body fat | Helps use fat for energy |
| Salt and fluid retention | Natural diuretic |
| Depression and headaches | Natural antidepressant |
| Interferes with thyroid hormone | Facilitates thyroid hormone action |
| Impairs blood sugar control | Normalizes blood sugar levels |
| Decreases sex drive | Restores sex drive |
So you can see that if you donāt have enough progesterone to balance out the estrogen, it could cause these issues.
SYMPTOMS OF A HORMONE IMBALANCE
Some of the most common symptoms of a hormone imbalance (low progesterone) include:
- Heavy or irregular periods
- PMS symptoms (migraines / headaches, cramping, moodiness, tender breasts, cravings, etc)
- Weight gain (especially around the stomach)
- Low libido
- Fatigue and low energy
- Anxiety, irritability and depression
- Poor sleep and insomnia
- Hair loss
- Hot flashes
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Endometriosis
- Infertility (not permanent ā fertility will come back when your hormone balance is restored).
Related post: 6 Unexpected Reasons You Can’t Lose Weight
HOW LOW PROGESTERONE / HIGH ESTROGEN CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN
SUGAR CRAVINGS
High estrogen can actually cause an increase in insulin. Increased insulin leads to sugar cravings, and this is why lots of women crave chocolate during PMS (and at other times too!). Progesterone helps to lower insulin levels.
STORED FAT
High levels of estrogen also cause more fatty tissue growth, and your fat cells, in turn, make more estrogen; so itās a vicious cycle. This excess fat is usually around the stomach because estrogen also dictates where the body distributes fat. This cycle can be helped by balancing out estrogen with progesterone.
FLUID RETENTION
High levels of estrogen also cause fluid retention. Progesterone is a natural diuretic and can reduce fluid retention and bloating.
DECREASE IN THYROID FUNCTION
Low progesterone can affect your thyroid, and thyroid issues can cause weight gain/difficulty losing weight. When you have low progesterone, your liver produces excess TBG (a protein). TBG binds to the thyroid hormones and blocks them so your body canāt use them properly.
APPETITE & SLEEP
Progesterone has a calming effect on the brain, whereas estrogen has an excitatory effect. This means that women with high estrogen experience sleep difficulties.
A lack of sleep disrupts the hormone that is in control of your appetite (leptin). When you are sleep deprived, this contributes to an increased appetite and you eating more.
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CAUSES OF HORMONAL IMBALANCE
For me, the hormone imbalance has probably been caused by a few things; but the main contributor has been long-term use of the contraceptive pill.
The pill contains synthetic progestin which lowers progesterone levels. Other causes can include stress, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, menopausal changes and xenohormones (found in plastics, solvents, adhesives, etc).
HOW TO FIX IT
For me, the first thing I did was stop taking the contraceptive pill. Within 2 weeks I already noticed my stomach looking leaner than it had in about a year. And I didnāt really do much different with my diet or exercise.
This is probably due to both losing fat and a decrease in fluid retention.
There are lots of other ways that you can naturally rebalance your hormone levels, but there are just SO many. Iām not going to list them all.
A few things you can do is to take 1tsp of maca powder each day ā this is supposed to be great at balancing out your hormones. Buying organic meat (with no added hormones) is also a good move. I have also been taking a natural supplement called Fem Rebalance to help my hormones restore themselves naturally.
My best suggestion is to visit a naturopath that specializes in hormones for women and get some testing done.
The testing they do will be different to a GP. The blood tests your GP take may not accurately represent your hormone levels. It is best tested through a saliva or urine test. Once you have results, your naturopath will be able to recommend treatment.
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Wow. It’s comforting to know other people have these same difficulties!
I have recently stopped my contraceptive pill as I was concerned that it was causing my headaches and chubby tummy, looks like your data matches! I know it is supposed to take 3 months or so before everything normalises, but I am still suffering with motivation to exercise around that time of month as I “just don’t feel right”. I follow your program but this throws my routine out. What do you do to pick up your mood and energy levels when you feel like this?
Hey lovely,
Thanks for reaching out! :)
The issue you are having is very relatable and I totally understand why it’s not easy for you.
Here are a couple of blog posts that Rachael wrote on this subject that you may find helpful. :)
HOW TO STAY HEALTHY ON YOUR PERIOD
SHOULD YOU EXERCISE DURING YOUR PERIOD?
Once you realise how beneficial it can be, it could be enough to motivate you to push through hard days and continue working on your figure and health. :)
Hope it helps! xx
Love,
Ana
Hello Rachel,
Do you know anything about autoimmune progesterone dermatitis? I sometimes get rashes on my face and private parts (or at least reddens) when ovulating and around my menstrual cycle, as well as headaches, foggy brain, inability to stay asleep, etc. Do you have any ideas on how to get rid of this? All I see are solutions like doing a liver detox to get rid of the hormone allergy but many of the cleanses sound very aggressive and time-consuming (working retail, school, and a child to raise make this quite difficult)! Any ideas and solutions would be amazingly helpful!
Hi lovely,
I’m sorry to hear about your struggles. :( Unfortunately we aren’t very familiar with this condition, so the best thing to do is seek professional guidance from your doctor or physio. If you’re suffering from hormonal imbalances we also recommend finding a good naturopath or an integrative doctor who will help you with the appropriate treatment.
Wishing you all the best! xx
Love,
Diana
Hello there, I recenlty about 9 months ago noticed weight gain (unexplained) and mood changes and tiredness etc. etc. I just now found out the lining if my uterus is thickened due to low Progesteron. It all makes sense now! Excercising and eating well nothing was working with the weight gain. My doctor put me on Progesteron, Can anyone tell me how long before I notcie a difference in how I’m feeling? Thank you
Hi lovely,
We recommend finding a good naturopath because they’re better at helping with hormonal issues than regular doctors.
It could take anywhere from 2 to 6 months to notice a significant difference.
I wish you best of luck hun! xx
Love,
Diana
It’s great to see an article about this, and to know I’m not the only one! I’ve been struggling with fat loss for ages, despite making every effort with diet and exercise, consistently. I was so frustrated because looking at my figure, nobody could believe how much I was working out or how healthily I was eating. Some suspected I was binging on chocolate every night, or that I must be doing something wrong because I was always just a bit overweight, with cellulite and water retention around my hips, thighs, and in my legs.
I knew something was off, because whether I was working out hard 6 days a week and eating a calorie controlled vegetarian diet, or whether I went 2 weeks without exercising and indulging in pizza and chocolate, my weight and body fat levels always seemed to be about the same. Something else was controlling them. Yet no doctors seemed to take me seriously. One of them even insinuated that I might be anorexic – which fortunately is certainly not the case! I was just keen to slim down and also concerned because something was clearly out of whack in my body.
A functional doctor finally diagnosed me with gut issues, including SIBO and leaky gut, and the same hormone imbalance you describe: very low progesterone. My symptoms were just like yours, and I had stopped ovulating.
I had been on hormonal contraception (the pill, the injection, Mirena) from the age of 17 to 28 with only about 2 months break. During those two months my body magically responded to exercise and diet and I lost so much body fat and retained water without even trying. I’m hoping this happens again as my hormones start to rebalance!
So how did I remedy the situation?
First I tackled my gut issues, as without a healthy gut your body has a really hard time healing itself, getting rid of the bad stuff and absorbing the good stuff.
Then I switched to the copper coil, which is the only contraceptive option out there that doesn’t contain synthetic hormones. I’ve been using natural progesterone cream (one by Smoky Mountain Naturals, entirely organic, not a synthetic hormone like the progestin they use in some contraception), and taking calcium d-glucarate and DIM which are two natural supplements that help your liver and intestine eliminate excess estrogen.
It’s going to take a while but it’s so worth it. I just wish more women were aware of this. Xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens are in so many of the foods we eat, products we put on our skin and chemicals we use to clean our homes and clothes. Once in the body, they act like estrogens and further tip the balance towards estrogen dominance. A lot of us are struggling with this imbalance and we don’t even know! It’s also a good idea to invest in a home water filter, as our tap water these days is increasingly filled with estrogens. Eating out of plastic is also a good one to avoid for the same reason.
I went to so many doctors, including a top endocrinologist and a number of top gastroenterologists, to ask them what was wrong with me – and none of them seemed to take me seriously or were able to identify what the functional doctor spotted. He was the first doctor who’s ever asked me “so how are you?”, referring to all aspects of my life (emotional as well as physical). He took so much time and care to get to the root cause of the problem, not just cover up the symptoms.
And now I’m on the Lean Legs program and hoping to start seeing results, alongside my hormone rebalancing efforts and gut healing protocol!
I hope this info is useful to anyone else out there with similar symptoms. Good luck! And thanks Rachael for sharing!!
Hi lovely,
Thanks a lot for sharing your story, we know how tough it can be!
I’m so glad to hear you’ve been able to start your recovery and take steps towards reaching your fitness goals :)
I wish you all the best and I’m looking forward to seeing your progress! xx
Love,
Diana
I can’t lose weight even thou I eat very little. I must have a low metabolism.
Hi lovely,
We know that reaching your fitness goals can be hard and that you probably have a lot of questions about how to get that lean and toned body.
Weād love to help as much as we can :) thatās why we have created our Lean Legs Program and the Lean Legs Training Club.
The program in the eBook is an 8 week workout and nutrition plan designed to help you get lean and toned without bulking. It will help you slim down your legs, but will also help you slim and tone your upper body and core too (the workouts are full body). It also includes a full meal plan, a separate recipe eBook and demonstration videos.
You can find out more about the Lean Legs program here:
https://www.rachaelattard.com/lean-legs-program/
For more helpful info please have a read of this blog post about how to speed up your metabolism.
Love, Lean Legs Club support xx
My daughter who is 15 is getting irregular periods. Doesn’t get them for up to 4 months at a time. Even though she eats well, she has put on a few extra kilos and looks bloated. Could be PCOS. Went to GP to get a blood test. All normal, blood sugar, testosterone etc. Did a pelvic ultrasound. All normal. Went to a gynaecologist. Assumed she has a mild form of PCOS but can’t do anything further re providing her with medication or internal ultrasound because she told me she is young.
I am thinking of going to a herbalist. On her website states she treats hormonal imbalance, PCOS amongst other things. I know years ago a herbalist successfully treated my anxiety and depression. What do you think.
Hi Helen,
I’m sorry to hear that :( Rachael would recommend seeing a naturopath first as they have proven to be much better at helping with hormonal issues and pcos.
Wishing you best of luck! xx
Lean Legs Club support
Hi Rachael,
Thanks so much for your advice. This absolutely makes sense. I struggled to get pregnant after coming off the contraceptive pill for years then found out about my hormone imbalance. 2 healthy children later (with help from Cabergoline tablets). Struggling to lose tummy weight and much thicker so will take Cabergolin again as described by Doctor. Why didnāt the doctor explain this about the weight? He just keeps mentioning osteoporosis and reason to take the tablets with vitamin D. Thanks :)
Hi lovely, I’m so sorry to hear that. I would highly recommend seeing a naturopath because in my experience, then are a LOOOT better at dealing with hormone imbalances than doctors. Wishing you all the best! xx
Hello, I am 46 years old and was diagnosed with PCOS last year. I am estrogen dominant, high testosterone and low progesterone. My doctor prescribed me nothing and says everything will balance out itself. So I did my own research and started taking Indole 3 carbinol, saw palmetto, spearmint tea, fish oil, ashwagandha, gymnema, Vitamin D3 and a very good multivitamin and feel so much better. My periods have lightened up and are on time each month. But im still having trouble losing weight. Do you think this is a good combo for my symptoms?
Hi Kesha, I’m sorry to hear of your troubles and that the doctor didn’t give you anything to help. It’s great that you are taking some naturally products and multivitamins. I think this would help. But I would really recommend seeing a naturopath as they will be able to give you exactly what you need to help balance out these hormones :) Wishing you all the best! xx
Hi
I am 55 years old and just been tested by dr that i
I have no estrogen, and i am struggling to loose weight what can i use pls
Hi lovely, I would highly recommend seeing a naturopath as they are great for helping with hormones! I don’t know if you eat soy or not, but products like tofu and tempeh might help you boost up your estrogen levels. I’m sure there is a lot more you can do, but I would see a naturopath as they will have a lot better help and guidance xx
Iām sorry but how does the author write an article on hormones and recommend to get off of the contraceptive pill but not know that there is a progesterone only contraceptive pill available?
Hi there, a progesterone only contraceptive pill doesn’t mean that your body will produce progesterone on it’s own. You are still putting the fake hormone in. When you do come off this pill, your body will have trouble producing it on its own and will have the same issues as someone on regular birth control. I was on the pill for 9 years and in hindsight, I would never have gone on it, but that is just my personal opinion. If it works for you, great! The choice is up to you.
Hi Rachel!
I’m experiencing a whole bunch of hormonal stuff (endometriosis) at the moment – I’ve been on a higher estrogen combined contraceptive pill but am looking at changing to a different method (as I still need to use some kind of contraception unfortunately) – I was wondering if the progesterone-only pill is a better option in this case or if you have any info on this?
Thanks!!
Hi Annabelle, I’m so sorry to hear this :( I didn’t even know there was a progesterone only pill! But if you have to be on the contraceptive pill, then yes I think this would be much better. But it would be best to go and get your hormones tested first so you can check if you are actually high estrogen / low progesterone before deciding on a different pill. I wish you all the best! xx
Thank you Rachael for sharing. This has been really helpful for me. As of lately I have been frustrated because I am super active (run at least more than 10km on weekends and do a lot of walking. During the week I still walk but my main weekly workouts incoprates intense cardio exercises, yoga and pilates) and keep a healthy diet, at least for a significant part, but I can not lose weight. in fact I seem to have gained especially around my waist regardless of my efforts and consistently. This blog post has really helped me to understand other factors that might be contributing to this. x
Hi hun, you’re very welcome. It sounds like it might be a good idea to get a check up :) xx
Do you have any information regarding low estrogen and low progesterone and how to combat that through diet and excerscise ?
Hi Kim, the way to treat this is similar to the hormone imbalance I’ve talked about. Diet wise – try to avoid or minimize gluten, sugar and starchy vegetables. Your main focus should be healthy fats and protein. I couldn’t find much on dairy but I think a little bit is OK, unless you are intolerant. Make sure you address any food intolerances or gut issues – I saw a naturopath to help me with this. Exercise wise – the best advice is to do some form of exercise everyday. I think HIIT might be best to help boost your metabolism, but anything that gets your heart rate up would help! Good luck hun xx