Have you ever been super dedicated in the gym, but it’s taking what feels like forever to see real results? You are following all the guidelines by eating healthy and maintaining a consistent workout routine, but your body looks and feels no different. Hormone imbalances could be the reason your gym gains are not where you want them to be. This can be super annoying and frustrating, putting in all that hard work with no return, but that won’t be the case forever. The good news is that there are ways to correct your imbalances and get your body back on track. By following more holistic methods, you can not only see results in the gym but you can get both your mental and physical health on the same wavelength.
You are not the only woman who has experienced a hormone imbalance in their lifetime. Studies show that nearly 80% of women have had one, a time or two, and a lot of them even suffer without realizing it. Hormone imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of one or more hormones, and this can have different effects on your body. Some symptoms in women include weight gain, mood swings, irregular menstrual cycles, insomnia and low sex drive. When it comes to women who are going through perimenopause and menopause, low estrogen levels can increase weight gain. This shows that no matter how much effort you put in at the gym, there is something deeper going on which impacts your results.
“Feeling stuck at the gym is never fun. You might have a period of time where you see progress, and then you feel like that progress plummets. A hormone imbalance might be the reason your body looks different. Whether you spend a lot of time in the gym or not, your hormones are important to your muscle mass and strength,” says Proov CEO Amy Beckley.
Understanding your body is the key to managing a hormone imbalance. If you think something is wrong with your body, it’s okay to take measures into your own hands. Practicing healthy habits and holistic measures can help get those hormones back into place.
Instead of overdoing it at the gym, try easing back into more low-impact exercises. You could also incorporate a more sustainable diet into your daily routine, instead of following drastic eating regimens. If you feel like you already have that down, you could try taking natural supplements or practicing mindful techniques to make sure both your mental and physical body is in shape. All of these different methods give you the power over your health, so you can take on the gym and see the progress you are working for.
“When your hormones are all out of whack it will have physical effects on your body. Things like stress, medicine and lifestyle changes can all create hormone imbalances, and negatively impact your success in the gym. The key word is balance here. Practicing holistic measures like meditation, low-impact exercises and a healthy diet can get your body back on track,” Beckley says.
Because so many women have experienced a hormonal imbalance in their lifetimes, don’t be afraid to ask for advice and seek out other sources of information. Talking to friends, family and even your doctor can help guide you in a new direction. You don’t know what you don’t know, and when it comes to holistic health there are so many different avenues you can try.
Working hard in the gym takes persistence and motivation, so try not to let a hormone imbalance get in the way of your goals. It can be a setback, but you have the ability to take control over your health in ways that won’t break the bank. Maintaining a health diet, trying low-impact exercises and prioritizing your mental health can help your body be more in sync. Progress is on the horizon once your body is back in balance.
