Your Hormonal Body Type
We've all got a type. And by type, I mean body type, specifically hormonal body types.
We all store fat, emotions and toxins in different places. Generally, women store fat around the hips and breasts thanks to estrogen, but what happens if you have too much or too little? Or are you just right?
Your body will definitely let you know when your hormones are just right or way off balance.
Knowing this simple information can help you with your health goals as well as your physical, hormonal, and even emotional needs.
Which Hormonal Body Type Are You?
1. Estrogen Body
Estrogen is what makes us biologically female. It's what shapes our curves, plumps our breasts, makes us sharp, witty, and sexy. It's the hallmark of our fertility and it helps keep disease causing inflammation at bay.
But, too much of a good thing isn’t necessarily good.
Estrogen dominance, too much estrogen, is at an all time high. Women are plagued with estrogen dominant conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, cysts, PCOS, PMS, and thyroid imbalances.
When too much estrogen goes in and not enough comes out, it tends to get stored in the hips, thighs and butt. Too much estrogen can limit the production of progesterone, which leads to those oh-so-familiar symptoms of PMS—acne, irritability, irregular periods. During certain times of the month, too much estrogen can also lead to bloating because of intestinal backup, poor enzyme production, and a congested liver.
If your estrogen levels don't strike a balance and level out, severe hormonal imbalances will only get worse.
2. Cortisol Body
Most of us live here in cortisol land!
Stress comes in different forms: traffic, children, deadlines, relationship struggles, and even too much exercise. Yes, you read that right, over exercising can give you a belly fat.
If you're stressed, overachieving, and busy, you probably rely on a good dose of endorphins from your workouts to relieve tension. Sadly, no matter how hard you workout, the paunch on the belly is always the last place fat leaves especially if you’re guilty of pushing yourself too hard, skipping meals, and overexercising. This creates high amounts of the stress hormone, cortisol, and when cortisol is high, you can bet your insulin (blood sugar) is high as well. Together, they promote the storage of fat in the belly.
3. Insulin Body
Do you skip meals, get hangry, love quick carbs and sugar, struggle with PCOS, or have noticed some love handles? All of these are signs of blood sugar imbalances.
Although much emphasis gets placed on estrogen when discussing hormonal imbalances, insulin is a major player that needs attention, too.
If you've tried Paleo or Keto diets, with less than stellar, sustainable results, it's mostly because animal protein actually increases insulin levels higher than table sugar. Too much blood sugar is not just from eating processed carbs. The insulin Index of Food Study, revealed that meat raised insulin levels higher than an apple, a cup of oatmeal, and even two cups of white pasta.
The good news is that balancing insulin can occur in as little as 3 weeks. Now imagine how your body could transform in three short weeks.
4. Testosterone Body
Do you notice fat stored in your upper arms, low sex drive, or fatigue? If so, it could be a sign of low testosterone.
While men have more testosterone, women also need testosterone to maintain fertility as well as muscle mass and fat distribution. Low testosterone levels also reveal how your adrenal glands and ovaries are functioning, since those two glands produce testosterone.
With low testosterone, you're using up your adrenal reserves. Change your workouts to include yoga, pilates, and barre classes., This change to some low intensity exercise help to reset your hormones while keeping your body moving. Omega-3 rich foods or supplements are a great addition if this sounds like you.
5. Thyroid Body
The thyroid body type tends to have dry skin and hair, hair that breaks easily, and you may go grey earlier than others. Your excess weight tends to accumulate around the middle of the body. You tend to gain weight in the stomach and typically have soft low fat around the middle—think of a spare tire. You probably also gain weight on the hips and upper thighs. You tend not to gain in the face arms or legs. Thyroid body types typically have small facial features, a thin neck, and perspire very little.
Thyroid dysfunction can be caused by high stress levels, heavy metal toxicity, as well as deficiencies in iodine and selenium.
What's Your Type?
When it comes down to it, the female body comes in different shapes and forms. Luckily, our bodies send us messages letting us know how we’re doing. If your quality of life is suffering, if you’re frequently in pain, or if your body has morphed into a shape that leaves you feeling less than sexy, the good news is you can fix it.
With the right guidance and a little accountability, you can overcome these symptoms and reshape your body and your life as you rebalance your hormones and blood sugar in three weeks.
To help you get started, I've created my 12 week wellness program, where I guide you through an eye-opening experience taking control of your hormones so that you can get the body you want. Want to take it up a level? Functional Medicine lab testing is an option so that you can stop guessing and discover exactly where you’re at and what your body needs.
After dealing with my own hormonal imbalances and working with women facing the same challenges, I know this: synthetic hormones are NOT the answer. It all starts with what you eat.