In order to lose weight and to keep it off you have to ‘Flip the Switch’ - moving your body from a state of fat storage to fat loss. We all want to get rid of that stubborn belly fat and now we can! Over the last 16 years I have heard many clients complain of weight loss issues and I have found a breakthrough in weight loss due to two important hormones – Leptin and Ghrelin. The more out of balance these hormones are the more difficult it will be to lose weight.

Bad Hormone

Ghrelin is the hormone responsible for making you hungry. You can blame Ghrelin for the hunger pangs, late night munchies and mid-day snacks. Not to mention Ghrelin is released whenever the body senses a stressful situation – which is why many people can find themselves stress/emotional eating. The more stress the more cortisol is produced which ultimately leads to adrenal fatigue! When you focus on lowering Ghrelin it will help reduce hunger and cravings and release stored body fat.

Good Hormone

Leptin acts as an appetite suppressor and fat burner - due to its ability to signal your brain when you have consumed enough food and then tell your body to use the fat stored for energy. When a person continues to gain weight and enters into obesity it causes their leptin levels to increase, leading to ‘leptin-resistance’. Leptin, meanwhile, is not getting to your brain causing its “fullness signal” not to be heard, putting you into a potential vicious cycle of hunger and over-eating. When you become leptin resistant your body requires more and more food in order to feel full… so the more weight you gain the more food your body thinks it needs to survive.

The good news is Leptin and Ghrelin can be controlled! I have walked many clients through my individualized plan to control these two hormones and they have finally left the weight behind.

Tips to Keeping Ghrelin and Leptin Hormones Balanced:

• Eat high fiber foods and animal protein at every meal – limit processed foods and simple sugars (including fruits initially) Eat as nature intended!

• Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night – Sleep deprivation was associated with an increase in ghrelin levels, appetite and hunger.

• Reduce Stress (yoga, exercise, eliminate toxic relationships, reading, listening to music) – when you are stressed your body produces more cortisol leading to increased hunger

• Moderate Exercise Daily – go for a walk, do some stretches, move your body!

• Supplementation & Diet – through individualized diet plans, looking at food sensitivities, you can experience breakthrough in weight loss, food addictions, and get back to enjoying life!