Many women believe that being chronically stressed is "normal" and a by product of what "I need to/should do to get ahead or get noticed”.

While stress may be normal, chronic stress isn’t.

Studies show that excessive stress or prolonged periods of stress causes the stress hormone “cortisol” to rise, often leading to hormonal imbalances. Statistics show that almost 80% of women suffer from some kind of hormonal imbalance and untreated hormone imbalances can have serious consequences - leading to depression, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity and breast cancer.

If you’re feeling tired but wired, gaining weight around your belly, suffering from anxiety, mood swings, can’t sleep or crave sugar, then you most likely have a hormone imbalance.

The most common causes of hormonal imbalances include: poor nutrition, how you move (or don't move), ageing, pregnancy, environmental exposure to toxins, excessive or prolonged stress, lack of sleep and unhealthy lifestyle choices.

How do your hormones affect your body shape?

When your glands or organs aren’t working properly, it’s almost impossible to keep off excess fat or fluid. Your body shape and where you accumulate fat is a good indicator of where your underlying health issues may lie.

If you are accumulating fat around your belly, then it could be a sign that your cortisol is out of balance and you may be suffering from adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue is caused when your adrenal glands can’t adequately meet the demands of emotional or physical stress.

Oestrogen balance is necessary for maintaining a balanced mood and concentration levels, as well as achieving fat loss. However, stress and age cause a natural decline in testosterone and progesterone levels, leaving an excess of oestrogen. PMS, water retention, too much body fat around your hips, bloating and difficulty losing weight are all signs that you may have too much oestrogen. Premenopausal women with pear-shaped bodies tend to have too much oestrogen, while menopausal women with excess oestrogen accumulate fat around their belly and tend to appear more apple-shaped. Unfortunately, the more weight you gain, the more likely you’ll have excess oestrogen, which can lead to insulin resistance.

Like cortisol, insulin is a “major” hormone. It regulates blood glucose levels. However, the more your cells become resistant to insulin, the more likely you will develop chronically high blood glucose. This leads to fat accumulation in your upper body (chest and back) and puts you at significant risk of type 2 diabetes.

The main thing to remember is everything is interrelated: high levels of one hormone can dramatically impact the action of another. So, it’s important to keep your hormones in balance.

My top 4 tips for finding hormone harmony:

• ‍1. Take a hormone inventory Keep a daily journal of when you’re tired, wired, feel bloated, moody, etc - become an expert on you.‍
• 2. Find the root cause – do not just treat the symptoms: Find an integrative doctor, naturopath or healthcare practitioner who will take your symptoms and concerns seriously.‍
• 3. Reduce your stress levels: The need for control is one of the biggest causes of stress in our lives. How are you stressing yourself? Are you creating stress by your over responsibility and unwillingness to delegate? Be honest with yourself: what is it costing you to not accept or ask for help?‍
• 4. Make a plan from the inside-out: Find a personal trainer/coach who understands women and their hormones; who will work together with your doctor/ naturopath to give you the correct exercises, proper nutrition and lifestyle plan for your body, as well as take into account your life circumstances, wants and needs.

Leesa Melchert is a Self-Care coach and mum of one. She helps women to take care of themselves from the inside-out.

Her professional qualifications include: Associate Certified Meta-coach , NLP Master Practitioner, Enneagram Healing Practitioner,, Certified Image Consultant, with  12+ years in the health and fitness industry.

w: leesamelchert.com.au