In this episode, we talk about how to lose belly fat.  Belly fat is one of the most common complaints we hear from our patients and listeners.  Weight loss, especially in the stomach is very common and more of a consequence of hormones rather than food.  
This episode is an extension from our article, 11 Tips on How to Lose Belly Fat in Perimenopause'. Because of the popularity of the article we wanted to expand on belly fat and ways to combat it.  This episode focuses on tips to help lose belly fat that you might not be aware of. That is because many of our tips go against the grain in the typical weight loss theory of eat less, exercise more.

How many of you have gone on a diet ? I think I went on my first diet at 13 years old.  For the majority of history, it has always been reduce your calories and exercise a bunch, and you will lose weight.  While many do this over and over. The long game is, the weight might initially come off. But inevitably the weight loss will plateau and come back.  How many of you have worked really hard to lose 15 pounds only to put most of it back on plus more, just by going back to a normal way of eating.
You do not have to starve yourself and exercise like crazy to lose weight and maintain it.  I have so many people complain that they are eating 1000 calories and do some form of intense cardio 5 days a week and they are actually gaining weight! I wish to lose weight that the simple math equation of calories in versus calories out acutally worked.  That would be amazing. But there are too many variables, whether metabolic or hormonal that influence this equation making it obsolete.

Reduce Stress: yes, this is easier said than done.  But stress raises cortisol which then causes an imbalance of glucose and insulin.  Insulin is the only fat-storing hormone. Stress can actually make your belly grow.  Stress = Belly Fat.

Get Better Sleep: getting enough restful, deep sleep will help prevent belly fat.  Sleep is when we heal, and our cells recover. Not getting sufficient sleep will cause your cortisol to elevate at night.  Which a mentioned above will alter the balance of glucose and insulin. I have had patients that we worked only on healthy sleep that lost weight.  All they did was sleep better, and their pants fit better.

Don't Drink Your Calories:  we all know that we shouldn't drink soda or sugary drinks.   Sure, we have all heard of a beer belly'. Yes, alcohol beverages like wine and beer can cause weight gain.  But fruit juices are still loaded with sugar. Any drink with sugar will raise your glucose and then your insulin, then your belly.  That goes for electrolyte sports drinks that are loaded with sugar. Even coconut water has a lot of sugar in it. Some protein powders are secretly loaded with sugar.  If your protein shake/powder has more than 5 grams of carbohydrates, do not drink it. Ideally, find a protein shake that ha

This episode of the Progress Your Health Podcast is a continuation to a recent blog post: 7 Tips on How to Cope with PMS. Most women have some PMS symptoms, but there is certainly a spectrum of symptom severity. For one woman, it might just be mild bloating, but for another woman, her cramps are so bad that she has to miss work due to the pain.
Unfortunately, when you go see your primary care doctor, or even your Gynecologist, the only conventional treatment option is birth control and over the counter Midol. As we discuss in this episode, there a many things you can do to help reduce PMS symptoms.
If you break down the word, Premenstrual Syndrome, it refers to the collection of symptoms that tend to show up prior to menstruation. It is common for PMS symptoms to show up somewhere in the 7 to 10 days before your period. This is time frame usually between ovulation and menstruation.
As you might be aware, PMS symptoms can range from physical symptoms such as cramping and breast tenderness to emotional symptoms such as irritability and anxiety. Over the years, we have seen so many different types of PMS related symptoms. Some symptoms are obvious, but others can be less clear. If you seem to be having recurring symptoms every 2 to 3 weeks, it could easily be related to your cycle.
Below is a list of some of the more common PMS symptoms. 
Symptoms of PMS:

Sugar and carbohydrate cravings (especially refined processed carbs)
Weight fluctuations (due to water retention)
Gain weight easily during PMS, and then you have to work really hard to lose it
Acne: especially around the chin and jawline
Breakout on the neck, chest and upper back
Bloated
Constipated
Breast swelling and tenderness
Anxiety
Spotting 4-8 days before a period
Cramps
Cramping can happen during the period or anywhere from 7-14 days before a period
IRRITABLE!
Angry outbursts, patience is nonexistent
Crying
Sad
Trouble staying asleep
Low sex drive

When it comes to hair loss, the first question women ask is, “can thyroid problems cause hair to fall out?”
The answer to this question is an obvious yes.
The next question women will ask is, “can hair loss from thyroid problems be reversed?
Again, the answer is yes, your hair will grow back, but the underlying hormone issue needs to be addressed.
Something to keep in mind, hair loss is not always just a thyroid issue. When it comes to hormones, when one is out of balance, other hormones are also out of balance. For hair loss. this would include the major metabolic hormones and sex hormones. The hormones include cortisol, insulin, DHEA, Testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.
In this episode, we discuss ways to help hair loss from thyroid and other hormonal imbalances. For more information, you can read our article: Guide on How to Stop Hair Loss from Hypothyroid.  
We have seen many patients over the years and hair loss ranks towards the top of the list of importance. Women are so scared and desperate not to lose their hair and will do and try just about anything to make it stop.
Unfortunately, many doctors are not interested, or not trained to treat your hair loss concerns. Patients have told us their doctor says nothing can be done, or simply refers them to a dermatologist.
Hair loss is not just a consequence of aging. It is not something you have to simply accept, it is a symptom of an underlying hormonal or nutritional issue that can certainly be addressed.
The thyroid gland plays a role with just about every system in the body. An underactive thyroid can lead to many symptoms, hair loss being a very common one that we see with many of our patients.
When hair loss is due to hypothyroidism, it is from the root. It may be typically to find full pieces of hair all over the house. In the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and even in the car. The hair will be thinning all over the scalp, but mainly on the top and the hairline. It is also common for people with hypothyroidism to be missing the lateral of their eyebrows, which is referred to as Queen Anne's sign.
Below are some tips to consider in order to stop your hair from falling out. 
Ideas to help with hair loss from hypothyroid and other hormonal imbalances.  

No Dieting (lowers T3) 
Reduce cardio exercise (increases cortisol) 
Improve sleep quality (lowers cortisol) 
Thyroid medication with T3 hormone (raises T3 levels) 
Lower High Reverse T3 levels (due to T4 only medication) 
Improve Liver function (improves T4 to T3 conversion) 

Other issues that could be contributing to your hair loss:

Uterine Fibroids are benign growths inside the uterus.  Some people do not know they even have fibroids and others have significant symptoms that can impact their quality of life. For more information, you can read our blog post about Uterine Fibroids. This podcast discusses:

What are uterine fibroids?
Typical physical and mental symptoms of fibroids.
Causes of uterine fibroids
What causes uterine fibroids to grow larger

Uterine fibroids can be genetic, and you seem them run in families.  Or it can seem out of the blue, and no one in the family has them except you.  Either way, remember that uterine fibroids are not cancer. Uterine fibroids are benign growths.

While fibroids are not cancer-causing, they can still affect a woman's quality of life.  Fibroids can have many symptoms from minor to excruciating.
Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids: 

Terrible period cramping.  Seriously a 15 out of 10 on a pain scale.  I have had some women that bring heating pads to work.  Some women take so much Tylenol and ibuprofen that their liver and kidneys become compromised.
Heavy periods.  When I say heavy periods, I mean heavy periods.  I have had some women that call in sick to school and work during the heavy days.  I have had some women use two tampons at once (yes at the same time, inside) during the heavy days.  Some women cannot even use tampons because the flow is so heavy, it will flush it out.
The periods are so heavy that the women become anemic.  Low blood iron levels from so much bleeding.
Irregular bleeding.  Fibroids can cause bleeding all month long.  Spotting after exercise or finding blood on the toilet paper.  There is nothing more of a buzzkill to sex is to notice bleeding.  Mid-cycle spotting, spotting a week before and after a period. 

Some women can have one fibroid or many fibroids.  Fibroids can be located all over the uterus. They are commonly found inside the uterus.  But fibroids can also be inside the uterine muscle wall. Fibroids are inside the uterine wall can cause a tremendous amount of pain.  I have had patients that have had hysterectomies because the pain is unbearable.

There is so much more you can do for fibroids that removing the uterus.  I understand, when there is that much pain and so much bleeding, a hysterectomy might be the best option.  But there are other alternatives to help keep the symptoms low. And there are reasons for why the uterine fibroids actually grow in the first place.  

Lifestyle and food can cause existing fibroids to grow, creating more symptoms.  And your own hormones can cause fibroids to grow, exacerbating symptoms. This podcast will explain in depth what lifestyle and dietary choices can increase the risk of fibroids.  And what you can do to reduce the s

Endometriosis can be very painful. It can have a significant effect on a woman's quality of life. Below are few of the common symptoms of Endometriosis.

Painful periods
Pain with intercourse
Heavy period
Mid Cycle spotting

Endometriosis occurs when the uterine tissue gets seeded outside the uterus. Removing the uterus can help tremendously with the following symptoms:

Heavy periods lead to anemia
Painful periods
Mid Cycle spotting
Bleeding outside of sync with your period
Bloating

As you probably already know, a Hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus.  Leaving the ovaries inside and intact. Removal of ovaries is oophorectomy.
Usually, with the hysterectomy for endometriosis, your surgeon will clean up and remove any endometrial tissue she/he sees in the pelvic area.
Unfortunately, the endometrial tissue can grow back on the ovaries and elsewhere in the pelvic area in some people. It’s hard to say why. After a hysterectomy, you do not have the retrograde menstruation, but if there was any micro endometrial tissue, it can grow back.  You still can get endometrioid cysts on the ovaries. Or elsewhere such as colon and bladder.
The likelihood that endometriosis comes back or you experience the same pain as before the hysterectomy is much less. Women do say they have so much relief, but it can happen.  Could be genetics, hormonal imbalance, lifestyle, or just luck of the draw.
In the case of estrogen dominance that can exacerbate endometriosis. Estrogen likes to grow things.  So if estrogen is high or there is not enough progesterone to balance estrogen, that can make endometriosis worse.
Taking estrogen-only treatment or the dose of estrogen is high can cause endometriosis to flare to come back. The estrogen will grow the micro-lesions of endometriosis that your surgeon could not see.
There are many factors that can increase inflammation and exacerbate the symptoms of endometriosis. Below is a list of factors that can increase overall inflammation:

Smoking
Sugar / High fructose corn syrup
Processed and refined carbohydrates
Alcohol
High glycemic index foods
Lack of healthy fats

Below is a quick list of tips that can help endometriosis after hysterectomy:

Reduce sugar
Improve liver function (caffeine, alcohol, sugar)
Low carb / ketogenic diet
Increase healthy fats: olive oil, avocado, MCT, fish oil, Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA)
Maintain a healthy weight
Improve sleep quality

Sometimes a Hysterectomy is the final option for a woman with endometriosis to get some relief. Typically endometriosis will improve significantly, but in some situations, it can reoccur after a hysterectomy.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or you can send an email to [email protected]
The post Will Endometriosis Return After Surgery? | PYHP 043 appeared first on .

Endometriosis is a condition that affects many women.  It is estimated that about 10% of females ages 15 to 49 are affected.  I think this percentage of women with endometriosis is much higher than 10%.  That is because the only sure way to be diagnosed with endometriosis is to have laparoscopic surgery.
There are many signs and symptoms of endometriosis, but they tend to overlap with other hormonal imbalances.  Often it is confused with fibroids, ovarian cysts, and painful, heavy periods to name a few. And like I said, the only sure way to know is having surgery and finding endometriosis in the pelvic cavity.  

What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is the lining of the uterus has seeded itself elsewhere in the body.  The top lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. It is the cells of this lining (endometrium) that is found outside of the uterus.  Common places endometriosis is found:
-Fallopian tubes: Sometimes it can cause scar tissue on the fallopian tubes reducing fertility or can contribute to an ectopic pregnancy (which is a health emergency).

Ovaries: commonly it can cause ovarian endometrioid cysts.   
Colon
Cervix
Vagina
Bladder
Some rare reports have shown in the lung cavities and other organs

Why is there Uterine Tissue Not in the Uterus?
There are many conflicting theories on why the endometrium lining that is supposed to be in the uterus is elsewhere in the pelvic cavity.  A long-held theory is in utero when cells are developing; uterine cells are seeded in other areas outside of the uterus. A more recent theory is there is a  retrograde of flow during a period. The blood backs up and out of the uterus causing uterine cells to plant themselves anywhere in the pelvic cavity.
New hypotheses are endometriosis is an extension of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. But plenty of people do not have endometriosis.  Why some do and not others? Like mentioned above it could be genetic, autoimmune, lifestyle, retrograde mechanical flow, etc.
The old-school theory of developing in utero has pretty much been put on the shelf.  Endometriosis often comes back after laparoscopic surgery. Sometimes it comes back slightly, moderately or its back with a vengeance after surgery.  Which is why many women with endometriosis have had more than one surgery.

The big question: What Does Endometriosis Feel Like?
Pain: Pain is the number symptom that women with endometriosis are seeking answers.  There are several types of pain that are experienced in endometriosis. And the pain is no reflection of how much endometriosis they have in their pelvic cavity.  Some women have minimal endometrial lining seeded outside of the uterus. But report debilitating pain. Other women have stage fo