The new year is here! And I am sure everyone has their new year's resolutions.  The most common, eating better and losing weight.  With the holiday season (speaking for myself), there has been way too much sugar, treats, alcohol and just too much food in general.  
It has also been wonderful to spend quality time with family and loved ones, but too much wine, dessert and too little/no exercise (again, speaking for myself).  I am more than ready to eat better, exercise and stop wearing yoga pants all the time.We have a program to help you (and me) eat better, feel better, lose and maintain weight.  Specifically belly fat, because that is where we have all gained it. This program is called the Keto-Carb-Cycling Program (KCCP).
First off, caloric restriction is not going to work.  We have all reduced our calories, suffered from hunger, cravings and being a little moody. Unfortunately, you lose a small amount of weight, which is mainly water, and muscle.  Then binge and gain it all back. This program incorporates a keto diet, intermittent fasting with carbohydrate cycling.  The whole point is to increase and balance your metabolic hormones. While at the same time, keeping you satiated and not restricting calories long-term.
Individually, a Ketogenic Diet, Intermittent Fasting, and Carbohydrate Cycling are very popular and do help with weight loss. However, each has its pros and cons. After working with many patients over the last 14 years, we have found that by combining the three approaches together works best. It is more healthy to our systems and maintainable over time.  Finally, you can start losing weight and keep it off.   

What is a Ketogenic Diet?  
A keto-diet is reducing your total carbohydrate intake so that you go into ketosis.  Usually, our bodies run by glycolysis, which is the process of utilizing carbohydrates/glucose for fuel.  By reducing your carbohydrate intake below 30 grams daily, your body cannot run by glycolysis.  It must switch to burning ketone bodies for fuel, which is ketosis.  
When you are in ketosis, you are burning fat. So part of the KCCP is to put your body into fat-burning mode.  Although, it is not ideal to be in ketosis for an extended length of time.  Long-term ketosis is hard on the thyroid, can cause electrolytes/minerals deficiencies and drop neurohormones like serotonin. That is why we have combined intermittent fasting with carb-cycling to work together for weight loss, metabolism, and overall health.
What is Intermittent Fasting:  
Intermittent fasting (IF) is eating your meals in a 6 to an 8-hour window and fasting for 16 to 18 hours a day.  Commonly IF is eating meals between noon and 8 pm. A lot of people tell me they already do this eating style, but they can't lose weight.  They skip breakfast and have lunch and dinner only.  Most of the time, this pattern turns into chronic caloric restriction, which is why we recommend adding in more carbs on a strategic basis.   
What is carb-cycling:  
Carbohydrate cycling is adding starchy carbohydrate to the diet.  The carb-cycling is done on a specific schedule and eaten only in the evening.  A starchy carb might be a sweet potato, beans or rice.  Having the carbohydrate at night will help keep neurohormones up such as serotonin and helps improve sleep quality.  It also fills up your glycogen stores in your mu

Welcome to the new year, 2018! It is going to be a great year.  With the start of any new year, everyone is ready to eat better and lose weight. Since when did my fat jeans' become my regular jeans lol!  With the holiday festivities behind us, it is time to get back on track with our eating and get back into our skinny jeans!  

Over the years there have been numerous diet' programs for weight loss.  As many of us know, diets are not sustainable, which is why we might lose 15 lbs but gain it back and more.  Or we lose a little weight only to plateau and feel like our efforts are fruitless.  

One approach that seems to have spanned the ages is, eat less, exercise more.'  We all have tried it once or many times, even though it always backfires on us.  People still keep trying to rein in their calories and exercise like crazy after the new year. 
Reducing calories is not a good strategy for weight loss. One of two things will happen when you cut calories:

You will lose weight initially, and then you will gain it back plus more.  Either by binging, because your body cannot take the starvation mode.' Or you eventually begin to eat like a normal human.  The intake of normal eating' is too much for your already starved body that the weight come back.  The rebound weight gain is inevitable.  
You initially lose 8-15 lbs, making you super encouraged.  However, after that initial weight loss, it stops.  You frustratingly stop losing weight no matter how little you eat or how much more you exercise.

A few things that reducing calories can do to you:

Caloric restriction will lower your thyroid function. If your body thinks it is starving, your thyroid function will drop, which will reduce your metabolism.’ Lower thyroid function can also cause hair loss, dry skin, and fatigue.  Cutting calories can also force your body to break down muscle tissue, further lowering your metabolism.
Caloric restriction will also Increase cravings for carbs and sugar. There are many hormonal and neurotransmitter changes that occur when you drop your calories. Specifically, a neurotransmitter called Neuropeptide-Y will increase, which makes you want to eat sugar and processed refined carbohydrates.
Caloric restriction stresses the adrenal glands. Reducing calories will cause cortisol to rise.  Elevated cortisol will also break down muscle tissue. Breaking down muscle tissue will raise your blood sugar, which in turn causes your insulin to increase. Insulin will take the blood sugar from the breakdown of muscle and cause you to store fat around your midsection. Essentially, you are trading muscle for fat.

The Ketogenic Diet has been around for decades but is currently trendy for weight loss and overall health.  There are many opinions regarding its viability as a dietary strategy.  It is a low carbohydrate diet, but there are many more aspects to it.  A Ketogenic Diet is much better than just reducing your calories for weight loss.  

What is Ketosis?
When we eat carbohydrates, our bodies run by a process called, Glycolysis. This is the process of burning glucose/sugar is our primary fuel source for energy.  When we dr

Getting rid of stubborn belly fat is one of the main complaints I hear from patients. In particular, the female patients. More specifically, the female patients over 40 years old. Why is it you can eat a cheeseburger, fries and shake when you are 20, but forget it at 40?
Why does it seem that the waistline keeps growing regardless of exercise and diet?
This is where it becomes an issue of balancing metabolic hormones rather than eating less or exercising more.  Our metabolic hormone balance at 20 is vastly different from 40. I know it sounds like age, but it is more about metabolic hormones.
Even in younger women, there can be a metabolic hormone imbalance. It isn't really about age, but more about the chronic stress altering our metabolic hormones causing one of three things:

Weight distribution changes
Waistline enlarges, and legs get thinner
Belly fat, muffin top, and back fat
All of it: back fat, muffin top, spare tire and thin legs

Chronic stress affects all of our hormones. Mainly causing insulin and cortisol to rise. The increase in insulin and cortisol will shift sugar/glucose storage toward fat storing rather than fat burning. What is chronic stress? And why is my insulin elevated because I am a stressed out hot mess?
What is the solution to get rid of belly fat?
If the goal is to get rid of belly fat, then you must reduce/balance insulin and cortisol.
The next million dollar question: how do I reduce insulin and cortisol? Because my stressed out hot-mess of a life isn't going away!
Let’s keep it simple! We have a program called the Keto Carb Cycling Program (KCCP), which we designed to help you lose that stubborn belly fat. You can download the KCCP for free from our Content Library.  Then, all you have to do is follow it.  Of course, this is easy said than done, so be gentle with yourself and take the necessary time to allow it to work.
Visit progressyourhealth.com to gain access to our content library.
 
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Two common questions we get all the time is: how much does BHRT cost? And will my insurance cover it?
If I had a dollar for every time, I have been asked this question I might have a pair of those fancy Christian Louboutin heels. It’s okay because I can't stand heels anyway, but the cost of Bioidentical Hormones is undoubtedly a significant concern.
People have budgets, so they need to know if their BHRT is going to cost them a car payment, nothing or something in between. Considering BHRT can be an ongoing monthly prescription, these are valid questions.
I have been prescribing BHRT since 2004. In that time, the cost of BHRT and insurance coverage has changed a lot. Since BHRT has increased in popularity, some compounding pharmacies have started charging more and more.
Injectable growth hormone is a perfect example. Per month growth hormone has gone from the price of a fancy dinner to more than a round-trip airline ticket to Hawaii. Also, we are well aware of the breakdown and many changes to our healthcare system. This change made what used to be almost 100% coverage of BHRT to pretty much 0%.
I work with a few compounding pharmacies, and I am very particular which pharmacies those are. Price is an essential factor, but quality and safety is the main priority. BHRT is not a supplement or vitamin. BHRT are prescription medications. That means you do not want to take something that you might be questioning quality over price.
Compounded thyroid medication is a good example. If the T3 (Liothyronine) dosage is altered by the smallest of micrograms, a patient can end up in the emergency room with a heart arrhythmia.
So what are you going to pay for BHRT? Unfortunately, this is a loaded question without a definite answer. It depends on how many BHRT prescriptions you are taking. As well as what dosage and the type you need for your specific health goals.
To be incredibly broad (sorry) each prescription is going to cost between $30 to $70. With the average cost of a prescription being right around $50.
Sorry to break this to you, but insurance is most likely not going to cover any of it. Some insurances might cover a portion of the prescription, but usually not the full cost.
Conventional hormone replacement can be covered by insurance, but these hormones cannot be tailored to the individual and have some unwanted side effects. This is why patients do well on custom BHRT, but unfortunately, there is going to be an out of pocket pricing. I understand this episode may seem vague and might leave you frustrated. But honestly, this is the best I can tell you. And I am sure the cost and insurance coverage will continue to change.
If you have concerns, questions or even your personal story, please post in the comment box below or email us at [email protected]
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Traditionally when one thinks of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), they immediately think of menopause. That hormone therapy is used to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. But in the last 10-15 years, hormone replacement has become more than a fix for hot flashes. But did you know that you can use BHRT for memory, energy and even libido? Did you know that men and women of all ages use BHRT? There are many other conditions that BHRT can treat. Below are a few conditions that BHRT can address that you may not know about.
Hypothyroid:
When people think of hypothyroid medication, you may think of Synthroid or the porcine thyroid (Armour/Nature Throid). However, Compounded Thyroid, which is a combination of Levothyroxine and Liothyronine, is an excellent option to treat hypothyroid.
PMS:
Using bioidentical progesterone helps to alleviate some of the symptoms related to PMS. You can use progesterone in many different dosage forms depending on the situation. From creams to capsules, to troches to vaginal suppositories. You can use bioidentical progesterone all month long or just part of the month or even a few days of a woman's cycle for PMS symptoms.
PCOS:
The conventional approach to PCOS is to prescribe birth control pills. However, this is such a limited treatment approach, and there are some potential side effects associated with birth control. But with BHRT you can individualize the doses of BHRT to the patient. This can help with PCOS symptoms but also help with the long-term effects of PCOS on the body such as the androgenic effects and fertility.
Perimenopause:
My patients in perimenopause describe it as feeling like they have PMS symptoms all month long. Plus, it is not healthy to use birth control pills in a perimenopausal female. Bioidentical hormones can be used effectively and safely to help women with perimenopausal symptoms. The symptoms range from irritability to trouble sleeping. From low libido to hair loss and acne. Bioidentical hormones can even help with perimenopausal weight gain.
Low Testosterone aka Low T :
Men can use Bioidentical Testosterone to address Low T. Conventionally low testosterone is treated with injections and gels, which can be expensive and cause some unwanted side effects. Besides, conventional testosterone cannot be tailored to the patient. Whether it is personal symptoms or family health history, hormone replacement therapy needs to meet the needs of the patient. Conventional this can be difficult to do. But with BHRT you can design the testosterone to the patient.
Adrenal Dysfunctions/Adrenal Fatigue/ Adrenal Insufficiency:
There is more to Bioidentical Hormone options besides just the reproductive hormones. You can use BHRT to treat Adrenal Fatigue. BHRT for adrenal fatigue can include pregnenolone, DHEA, and hydrocortisone. These hormones can also come in creams, sublingual, capsules, and tablets.
Menopause:
This is what everyone thinks of when they hear Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). The great aspect of BHRT is you can make any dose you want depending on the particular patient's symptoms. For women in menopause, there are many different symptoms and goals for each person.
For some women, their goals are to reduce hot flashes and night sweats. Other goals for women in menopause are low libido, vaginal dryness, and pain with intercourse. Others, it's dry skin and tonicity. Other women help with preserving bone density. With BHRT you can custom design the doses for the goals of the person.
As you can see Bioidentical Hormones Replacement Therapy can be helpful for more than just menopause. BHRT can be prescribed for men and women of all ages. There are exceptions to who is and is not a candidate for BHRT, but that is another episode in itself.
Develo

As I have always stated before, us ladies are a symphony of hormones. If one hormone is out of tune, it is quite apparent. However, sometimes it is hard to hear what instrument (hormone) is out of tune because when one hormone is out of balance, others seem to follow suit. So remember, it is not a good idea to fixate on one hormone being out of balance. It's about balancing them as a whole.
Patients tell me all the time, they have estrogen dominance.' They read on the internet, and their symptoms fit estrogen dominance.' Yes, their symptoms do fit estrogen-dominance, but It does not mean their estrogen is the only hormone that is off.
I am going to go through some common estrogen dominance symptoms' that you might find on the internet. And I will explain what other hormones might be at work here besides estrogen. Later in another episode, I will delve into more detail, causation, and treatment to balance our hormones.
PMS:
“My PMS is off the chain 7-10 days before my period! . This is actually because the progesterone is too low compared to the estrogen level. It is not that estrogen is too-high, but because the progesterone failed to peak after ovulation or it dived too quickly before your period.
Fibrocystic breast tissue:
If your estrogen is high, it can cause dense breast tissue and fibrocystic breasts. Estrogen likes to grow things. So if estrogen is not balanced or is high, the breast tissue will thicken and can become fibrocystic. Also, caffeine can exacerbate or lead to fibrocystic breast tissue.
This is because the progesterone level is to low for the amount of estrogen. Your estrogen levels might be “normal,” but because the progesterone is lacking it cannot hold back the estrogen. So estrogen will continue to grow that uterine lining.
Headaches:
This again is because the progesterone is too low for the amount of estrogen. A drop in progesterone can cause hormonal headaches starting at 14 days before your period. If you have headaches the last half of your cycle, your progesterone might be too low.
Breast swelling and tenderness:
Estrogen can cause water weight. Our breast tissue is very sensitive to estrogen. So if your estrogen is high, it can cause water retention in the breast tissue, making them feel full, heavy and, tender.
Weight gain in the belly:
Female hormones can contribute to weight gain, but not by themselves. It happens via the connection that estrogen/progesterone has with insulin and cortisol. High levels of cortisol and insulin will cause fat to accumulate around the mid-section. When the progesterone is low, or estrogen is high, that can cause insulin and cortisol to elevate. This will make you gain weight and also make it hard to lose.
Mood swings:
Feeling grumpy, snarky, irritable, weep, or sad. When the progesterone to estrogen balance is off, it can definitely affect our moods. If progesterone is low, that causes irritability. When you feel like everything it aggravating and you are quick to anger. That is low progesterone. If you feel weepy and nostalgic, that is high estrogen.
Decreased sex drive:
I think this is because the progesterone is too low and it makes us irritable. And us ladies do not want to have sex if we are angry or aggravated. High levels of estrogen do not drop the sex drive. Low levels of estrogen drop the sex drive. That is why sex flies out the window when we enter perimenopause or menopause.
Fibroids/polyps/exacerbated endometriosis:
Again, estrogen likes to grow stuff. If estrogen is high, it can also grow fibroids and polyps. It does seem to aggravate endometriosis.
Cold hands/feet, hair loss, foggy thinking, memory loss:
If you have any of these symptoms, then we want to look at your thyroid. Thyroid comes into play with estr