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Getting your Hormones in Shape for Summer

Swimsuit season is here! But if you are struggling with the symptoms of hormone imbalance, you might not be too excited about showing off your “beach bod.” Both men and women can have a harder time maintaining a healthy weight and muscle mass ratio when they are “out of balance.” When your hormones are out of whack, the rest of the body usually follows. 

Weight Gain in Women
Ladies, does any of this sound familiar?  

  • Weight gain around the middle 
  • Bloating 
  • Favorite jeans don’t fit 
  • Less muscle mass 
  • Have a harder time losing weight 

As estrogen levels drop during perimenopause and menopause, weight gain and changes in weight distribution can be an unpleasant side effect. Women gain an average of five pounds during menopause, but many women who are already overweight or obese will continue to gain. Other factors can contribute to weight gain during this time, including fatigue, antidepressant use, sleep changes, “empty nest syndrome,” and changes in job or relationships. 

 And it’s not just about switching from a bikini to a one-piece. Significant weight gain in your 40s puts you at greater risk for serious health problems like breast cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and depression.  

 One way to prevent this cascade of health problems is to maintain healthy hormone levels. With SottoPelle bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, one treatment every few months can keep you feeling and looking your best all year round without the hormone roller coaster. Customized to you, pellets deliver the right dose of hormone at the right time for constant, consistent results. 

Weight gain in Men
Men aren’t immune from hormone-related changes that affect their beach body, either. As testosterone levels drop, men tend to experience an increase in weight, an increase in body fat, and a decrease in lean muscle mass and strength. Sometimes breast tissue enlarges (gynecomastia).  

 Additional symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems, depression, and a decrease in motivation or self-confidence can also contribute to weight gain in men during this time. And, just like with women, obesity raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.  

 Something else many men don’t realize: obesity and hormone imbalance can contribute to erectile dysfunction. In fact, obesity and hormone imbalance in men seem to feed into one another, each causing the other to become worse. 

 Good thing SottoPelle Therapy works for men, too! SottoPelle’s bioidentical testosterone therapy delivers a steady, consistent dose of natural hormone right into your bloodstream, keeping your T levels where they need to be all year long. 

 Men and women, If your 40+ “beach bod” isn’t what you hoped it would be and you can’t seem to get and keep the weight off, it could mean that your hormones need to get in shape before you can. 

Book your SottoPelle appointment today and your beach vacation next! 

Resources 

https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/june/obesity-and-weight-management-at-menopause/ 

https://www.obesityaction.org/community/article-library/men-is-obesity-affecting-your-sex-life/ 

Testosterone Therapy: Help For Men With Low T & Weight Issues

Obesity is a problem for 70 million adults in the United States including 54 million men. But while we know that obesity raises our risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and more, for men it is also linked to hormone deficiency.

Bottom line: many men who are obese might also have low testosterone (T).

Looked at closely, it appears to be a case of the chicken and the egg. Testosterone deficiency causes men to gain fat and lose lean muscle mass. Insulin resistance caused by obesity lowers testosterone levels. As those two forces feed each other, the result is a man who is overweight and getting bigger, is unmotivated to lose the weight, and if he does try, has very little success.

If you know someone like this, testosterone pellet therapy could be the answer.

The numbers support this. A 2007 study of men ages 40 and up found that each one-point increase in BMI coincided with a 2% decrease in testosterone. A 2008 study of men ages 30 and up found that a four-inch increase in waist circumference increased a man’s odds of having low testosterone by 75%. Waist size was the strongest predictor of developing symptoms of testosterone deficiency. Australian research suggests that one in every seven obese men could benefit from testosterone replacement.1

By raising testosterone to proper levels with the help of pellets & SottoPelle’s bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, patients report signs that the vicious cycle of obesity and low T are lowered.

Fit mature man smiling while standing in a gym lifting heavy weights during a workout session

How can healthy levels of testosterone help men lose weight and keep it off?

  • Healthy testosterone levels help men build lean muscle mass
  • Healthy testosterone levels help men burn fat more effectively.
  • Healthy testosterone levels help improve mood and make men feel more motivated, competitive and excited about life in general.

It’s not just anecdotal, either. According to Endocrine News, a study presented at ENDO 2019 showed that long-term testosterone therapy in men with obesity and hypogonadism contributed to prolonged weight loss without added risks. In fact, losing the weight and being healthier as a result actually lowered their risk of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events.

Not only that, but even though patients in the study were always counseled on exercise and nutrition, it was only once they had begun testosterone therapy that they began to follow the recommendations and even ask for more!

It appears that testosterone replacement therapy knocked them out of the vicious cycle of low T and weight gain into a healthier feedback loop of weight loss, physical activity and motivation.

That’s great news! Here’s more:

Over the ten years of the study, the men who received testosterone lost over 20% of their baseline weight, their waist circumference dropped by almost five whole inches, and their BMI decreased by over seven kg/m2. The control group (who received no testosterone) gained in all three measurements.2

Now that you know the link between obesity and low testosterone, what can you do?

First you need to find out if low testosterone may be fueling your inability to lose weight and stay healthy.

Make an appointment with a SottoPelle practitioner to find out if you are a candidate for bioidentical hormone replacement and break the vicious cycle!

References:

  1. Harvard Health Publishing. “Obesity: Unhealthy and Unmanly.” Harvard Health, Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School, Mar. 2011, www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/obesity-unhealthy-and-unmanly.
  2. Bagley, Derek. “The Long Haul: Treating Men with Obesity with Testosterone.” Endocrine News: Endocrine Society, June 24, 2019, https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/the-long-haul-treating-men-with-obesity-with-testosterone/

How to Deal With Symptoms of Menopause 

Many women hear the word menopause and start to freak out.  Although this is a phase of life for every woman experiences, there is often a sense of embarrassment and dread. Women typically think that they are now considered old.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Think back to High School health class and it teaches us that menopause ends one’s fertility, but it tends to leave out that a woman can still remain healthy, sexual and vital after they go through menopause.  Like any other milestone in our life, menopause is just another phase. How we manage that phase physically, mentally, and socially impacts how well the transition and outcome will be.   

How to Deal With Symptoms of Menopause 

Menopause occurs when a woman stops menstruating and usually happens when they are in their 40s or 50s.  Illness or surgery can alter the onset of menopause for some women. When a woman starts to go through menopause, her body undergoes a series of changes that bring on a variety of symptoms. Some women don’t need treatment for their symptoms, because they go away on their own, but almost all complain of how uncomfortable they can be. 

 


Here are a few ways to deal with symptoms of menopause:
 

Hot Flashes 

Women experiencing hot flashes suddenly become very hot out of nowhere and they’ll start to sweat. Sometimes hot flashes can be triggered by something, so it’s good to notice what those triggers are so that they can be avoided. Such triggers include: stress, caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol or just being in a very hot place. It’s recommended to dress in layers so that they can be removed if a hot flash happens and to use a fan at home or at work. Also, taking deep, slow breaths when a hot flash starts can prevent one from becoming too hot and bothered.  

 Vaginal Dryness 

During menopause women tend to be more self-conscious of their bodies, it is important to keep your romantic and sexual life comfortable and ongoing as it will also help with your self-esteem. Menopause can make a woman’s vagina become unusually dry and the tissue becomes thinner, so if you are experiencing discomfort discuss it with your doctor.  

 Sleeping Problems 

Sleep seems to evade most women during menopause. The lack of sleep only worsens the other symptoms you may be experiencing. Some suggested ways to help get some rest is to be physically active throughout the day. Also, avoid large meals before bedtime and try drinking something warm before sleeping like warm milk or caffeine-free tea. If you wake up at night and can’t go back to sleep, do something relaxing like reading a book until you are sleepy again. But if you can’t get to sleep on your own, you might have to talk to your doctor about these sleep problems 

Mood Swings 

Some women feel crankier and moodier than usual when menopause hits them, so it’s important that they get enough sleep and rest to feel their best. Also, avoid stress and look for positive ways to ease any stress you might have. Women often find themselves very depressed during menopause. If you feel yourself unable to function, you should contact a medical professional for assistance.  Hormonal imbalance during this time can wreak havoc with your moods and emotional stability. Having support with friends , family, or group can help in dealing with some of the symptoms 

 Memory Problems 

When going through menopause, a common complaint is of memory trouble. The best thing to do is to stay physically active and get enough sleep to improve these symptoms. Also, mental exercises can keep memory lapses at bay.  

Women can always do something to lessen their symptoms when going through menopause, but they can also talk to their doctors about taking bio identical hormone therapy that can ease or even eliminate the symptoms caused by menopause.