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Adrenal Fatigue Weight Gain Treatment

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Adrenal Fatigue Weight Loss Tip #: Carb Cycling

Will Adrenal Fatigue Cause Weight Gain? Cushing’s Syndrome & High Cortisol Levels Dr.Berg

The research is in, and carbohydrate cycling is gaining traction in scientific conversations around weight loss2. Better than ketosis3, the process of enduring times of low-carb intake alternated with periods of high-carb intake is a way to combat your cells demanding more food.

Cutting down your carbohydrate intake from anywhere between 30-55% can help you reach your goals. It is also a way of avoiding weight loss plateaus4, which can often be one of the most frustrating parts of any diet.

Limiting carbs and allowing your body to burn off that excess fat while replenishing with more carbs keeps your body in a steady rhythm when it comes to dropping that extra bit of weight.

Key Insight:Cut down on ketosis, and bring more carb cycling into your diet.

Get An Adrenal Fatigue Test

You can just follow the advice at the bottom of this article , but if you want to be really sure that you have adrenal fatigue, I recommend getting a cortisol test from a functional medicine doctor.

Standard doctors often dismiss cortisol test results because they fall within the normal range of cortisol. But feeling like crap isnt normal, and you shouldnt accept it. Its similar with testosterone: 300 ng/dL is within the normal range, and so is 900 ng/dL. But if you triple your testosterone levels, I promise youll feel a lot different.

Its the same with cortisol. In the morning, normal cortisol is anywhere from 7-28 ug/dL in the afternoon, its 2-18 ug/dL.Thats a huge range, and the reason I dont suggest a standard doctor for a cortisol test. You dont want normal you want optimal.

A functional medicine doctor will look more carefully at your cortisol levels and be able to tell you if you have adrenal fatigue.

Tip #: Meal Replacements For Adrenal Fatigue Weight Loss

The formula is simple: 2 shakes + 1 meal. The effects of meal replacement strategies have been well-researched and is a proven way to safely remove those unsightly pounds from your belly6.

Two low-carb, high fiber shakes per day, followed by a low-calorie meal is all it takes. This will help keep your adrenaline surges in check, and will help you manage your cravings with ease.

Meal replacement plans help speed up weight loss and create a large amount of it at the same time. While also providing improvement in weight management, inflammation and oxidative stress7.

Basically, it is a way of giving your body what it needs. All done without giving into the tried-and-true cravings which keep us from cutting those inches from our waistline.

Key Insight: 2 shakes + 1 meal = an effective weight loss strategy.

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I Cant Shed Any Pounds No Matter How Little Or How Well I Eat

Blame it on: High and low cortisol

Do you:

  • Hate getting dressed in the morning because you have to find new ways to disguise the extra kilos that keeping appearing on your belly?
  • Feel distressed by unpredictable fluid retention that makes you look puffy in the face, tummy and legs?
  • Struggle to shed any kilos or even just maintain your current dress size even though you eat right for your body and exercise regularly?
  • Complain that even if you ate nothing but air you still wouldnt lose any weight?

Then its highly likely you have adrenal fatigue. Its well accepted that stress and weight gain go hand in hand.

The culprit? Cortisol. The impacts of high cortisol can easily be seen in people who suffer Cushings disease, a condition that causes chronic excess cortisol. Cushings sufferers experience round puffy faces, high blood pressure and weight gain, particularly around the belly and chest.

But similar side effects can occur if you are exposed to sustained stress. Suddenly you pack on more pounds even though youre not eating more food. And exercise doesnt shift it either.

Healing Your Adrenals Is Possible But It Takes Time

Pin on Adrenal fatigue

It took a lot of time for your adrenals to get where they are, and so its going to take time to heal them. Remember to be kind to yourself during this process of supporting your adrenal function and returning it to good health.

Ready to get started? You can take our Adrenal Health Quiz to find out more about your adrenal status. Then youll understand how to put yourself on the road to having healthy adrenal function and a return of a rested, vibrant you.

Recommended Reading: Does Diabetes Cause Extreme Fatigue

Balance The Adrenals To Balance Your Weight

The adrenals act as the oil and gas in your engine the thyroid. If you crank up the engine without paying attention to the oil and gas, you will eventually cause trouble.

It may not be for a couple of months or even a couple of years, but that engine will eventually run out of oil and gas completely, leaving you to break down again.

A sustainable solution would be to treat the adrenal problem first. Fill up the oil and gas, and your engine the thyroid will likely kick back in on its own.

The Most Dangerous Fat Caused By Weight Gain

Fat in the abdomen is particularly sensitive to cortisol. It is the preferred target for the storage of triglycerides during stress. Increased deposits of triglyceride in abdominal fat lead to an increase in size of fat cells in the abdomen. This leads to increased belly fat.

Research shows that abdominal fat is the most dangerous location for fat deposition.

Insulin resistance is also called Metabolic Syndrome. This increases the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The pancreas has a limited capacity to produce insulin and can become exhausted. The exhausted pancreas cannot produce adequate amounts of insulin to handle the glucose in the blood. Blood sugar rises, because of limited insulin to manage it. This is the leading cause of diabetes.

Also Check: Best Antidepressant For Depression And Fatigue

Tips For Adrenal Fatigue Healing & Recovery

If youre dealing with symptoms of adrenal fatigue or excessive stress, the homeopathic remedies listed above are definitely something to try, but they can only assist your body. You will probably have to make a few lifestyle changes as well.

Here are a few tips that can help get you started on the road to a healthier, happier you!

  • Dont skip breakfast! Eat within 30 minutes of waking and be sure to include protein
  • Choose gentle forms of exercise and movement and pace yourself
  • Acknowledge and deal with emotions, dont ignore and push them away
  • Learn to say no and set boundaries
  • Start a meditation, prayer, or gratitude practice
  • Get 7 8 hours of sleep and try to go to bed by 10 pm
  • Keep healthy snacks with protein on hand to stay energized
  • Drink enough water and include adrenal drinks if sodium and/or potassium levels are low
  • Take time every day to rest, breathe deep, and check-in with yourself
  • Disconnect at least 2 hours before bedtime
  • Interested in more helpful tips for adrenal fatigue recovery?

    Adrenal Fatigue Weight Gain & Other Symptoms

    Could Your Symptoms Be Adrenal Fatigue?

    So, how does adrenal fatigue mess with your weight?

    The main reason why adrenal fatigue causes weight gain is because of the lack of energy and feeling of exhaustion that come as symptoms of the condition.

    As weve mentioned, high cortisol levels from chronic stress put hormones out of balance, and wear out the body to the point of exhaustion. Hence, people with adrenal fatigue tend to both overeat to combat the stress, AND feel too tired to move and exercise. In the long run, this vicious cycle leads to weight gain.

    Another correlation between adrenal fatigue and weight gain is related to insulin. Too much cortisol causes your cells to become insulin-resistant which increases the production of insulin in your body. So, your blood sugar levels go up resulting in weight gain, especially in the belly area.

    Additionally, adrenal fatigue affects the thyroid gland functions which control your metabolism. When your thyroid hormones are not at their optimal levels, your metabolism is slower and you gain weight more easily.

    The good news is, you can treat mild adrenal fatigue symptoms with the help of natural supplements, a healthy adrenal fatigue-friendly diet, and applying some other useful tips and tricks to your daily routine.

    This way, youll gradually recover from adrenal fatigue and get back to your normal levels of energy.

    Also Check: How To Naturally Heal Adrenal Fatigue

    Finding The Solution With Adrenal Fatigue Weight Loss

    There is hope, and that is in the form of adrenal fatigue weight loss and a diet designed for adrenal fatigue and weight loss. The following are a collection of tips I can say will help you combat a cortisol imbalance and the dreaded cortisol and belly fat that comes with it.

    Of course, everybody is different, so these suggested dietary and exercise-based tips are going to vary based on the amount of effort and restraint you exercise.

    If bodybuilders and athletes use cortisol to their advantage, why cant you? There must be a simple way to help combat adrenal fatigue, speed up weight loss, and cut those extra pounds out of your life for good. In fact, there is, so let me walk you through some of the best tips to help you reach your goals with adrenal fatigue weight loss.

    Can you lose weight with adrenal fatigue? Learn how to lose weight with thyroid and adrenal problems, and utilize some of the following tips

    Can Poorly Controlled Blood Sugar Cause Adrenal Fatigue

    Yes, one common cause of adrenal fatigue is out of control blood sugar. Low blood sugar makes the adrenal glands work hard to make cortisol which raises blood sugar levels. During severe adrenal fatigue, the adrenal glands cannot produce enough cortisol. The symptoms of low blood sugar are dizziness, shakiness, and irritability. These are also symptoms of adrenal fatigue.

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    Phase 1 On High Alert

    When youre meeting a huge deadline for work or youve been up all night with a very sick child, you enter this first adrenal phase for a short period of time. Elevated stress hormones initially power you up with energy and then drop you down, leaving you feeling more worn out than usual. But your body is still able to make all the hormones it needs to respond to stress effectively and to energize you to get through the day.

    What Is Adrenal Fatigue Steps To Overcome It Naturally

    Pin on Adrenal Fatigue

    Reviewed by

    Did you know that chronic stress can affect your bodys ability to recuperate from physical, mental or emotional stress? This is likely why most people have dealt with adrenal fatigue at some point in their lives.

    Many proponents of this condition estimate that almost every person can experience adrenal fatigue, also known as hypoadrenia, to some degree at a particularly stressful point in his or her life.

    Because the adrenals influence many parts of the body, symptoms of adrenal fatigue can mimic a number of disorders and isnt always easily recognizable.

    Adrenal fatigue symptoms, like brain fog, moodiness and trouble sleeping, can be indicative of many disorders and are often overlooked by doctors. But more and more people are starting to realize that a combination of these health issues often indicate the onset of adrenal fatigue.

    If you have adrenal fatigue, it can have significant effects on your overall health. Luckily, you can improve this common issue naturally by focusing on your nutrient intake and lifestyle choices.

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    What Are The Symptoms Of Adrenal Fatigue

    First things first, check to see if you have signs of adrenal fatigue. They include:

    • Feeling tired struggling to wake up in the morning
    • Trouble falling asleep
    • Lightheadedness

    You might notice that a lot of these symptoms are pretty general. This is one of the challenges with adrenal fatigue imbalanced hormones affect your entire body so much that its hard to pin it down to your adrenals.

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  • Shanti on 28 August, 2013 at 12:10 pm

    Excellent article!! Thanks!!!

  • Marlene on 30 August, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    Have had Crohns disease , for 35 years and Hashimoto for about 13 years. I am always tired, poor concentration and memory , weight gain and no sex drive. Had 3 bowel resections, complete hysterectomy and 1/2 of my thyroid removed due to cancer. I would like to find an inexpensive straightforward treatment that I can follow that would really help

    .Something uncomplicated and affordable. Had lots if other stressors and steroids in my lifeThankyouh for any help or advice you can give me.

  • Alice on 30 August, 2013 at 4:05 pm

    So timely. Im dealing with adrenal issues along with known parasites and a lot of emotional stress in my life the past few years. Its a long road to recovery, but Im doing so many of the things you listed under the care of my ND.

  • stacy parker on 3 September, 2013 at 9:17 am

    I have been dealing with adrenal fatigue for years. Finally I have found a good combination of herbs that work for me and hope to be completely well soon.

  • grace on 8 September, 2013 at 12:20 pm

    So glad I ran into this article. It explains every single symptom that is occurring with me. And after seeing my Internest, GYN, & Psych doctors all they want to do is put me on sleepers and antidepressants with a bunch of other meds to combat the side effects of those meds. This will lead me into another direction. thank you.

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    Weight Gain And Insulin Resistance

    During a fight or flight situation, your body senses the elevation of glucose in the blood.

    Insulin is then released by the pancreas in response to the elevated blood sugar, to assist in getting the glucose out of the blood. If there were an actual tiger to fight or to run from, you would burn off this excess blood sugar.

    But if there is no actual tiger to deal with, the excess sugar in the blood can cause damage.

    The primary mechanism insulin uses to lower blood sugar is to escort and open the door for the sugar to get into the individual cells.

    However, if the cells already have adequate fuel or sugar, they will hold the door to the cell shut. The cells become resistant to insulin.

    During insulin resistance, the pancreas produces increasing amounts of insulin to get the sugar out of the blood into the cells.

    If the cells will not take in any glucose, the insulin then converts the glucose into a triglyceride: a molecule of fat plus sugar.

    The body then stores the triglyceride as fat in the body for use at a later date. Typical storage sites for fat include the hips, thighs, and abdomen.

    I Cant Think Straight Im Foggy

    Update 7 Ways to Lose Weight with Adrenal Fatigue and Hypothyroid

    Blame it on: High cortisol and its effect on the hippocampus.

    Ever noticed how hard it is to keep your mind operating on all four cylinders when youre having a heavy-duty day? You sit at the computer but cant focus, go to the shops but forget what you need to buy, misplace your keys or wallet or both. This mental meltdown is a direct result of adrenal fatigue.

    Stress induced brain drain is caused by the hippocampus, a little seahorse shaped organ in the brain involved in our short term memory. With too much cortisol in the brain, dendrites start to shrink and dont work as properly.

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    Treatment For Adrenal Fatigue

    At Health and Vitality Center one of the ways we support the adrenal glands is through IV vitamin therapy.

    For stage 1 of adrenal fatigue, Dr. Lalezar would recommend the Myers Cocktail, a Vitamin IV therapy of Magnesium and B Vitamins to calm the adrenals, reduce production of cortisol and alleviate stress.

    For stage 2 and 3 of adrenal fatigue, we use Vitality drip which consists of 15-30 grams of vitamin C, minerals, B vitamins, Zinc, Chromium, Magnesium, and Calcium.

    Additionally, we may recommend IV Glutathione which consists of three amino acids and is a very powerful antioxidant to support the adrenal glands. Different oral supplements may also be recommended for different stages of Adrenal Insufficiency.

    As a last resort, Dr. Lalezar may prescribe physiologic doses of Hydrocortisone to help heal the adrenal glands. Please refer to Dr. William Jeffriess book Safe Uses of Cortisol.

    Tip #: The Value Of Potatoes

    How to lose weight when you have adrenal fatigue all starts with a simple potato. Its like I always say: a potato a day keeps the inches away!

    Studies have shown that boiled potatoes are in a class of their own when it comes to foods which curb appetites11.

    Working more of these ingredients into your diet, in quick and simple ways, can help you combat adrenal burnout for good. The resistant starch in potatoes, in particular, will also help to heal your gut lining12.

    There are so many superfoods out there, but potatoes can call themselves one of the original ones. They have loads of health benefits and can help you jumpstart your adrenal fatigue weight loss. Easy to prepare, easy to enjoy and youll be reaping the benefits in no time.

    When it comes to balancing out the relationship between cortisol and body fat, potatoes are a great place to start. Heres how it could look as part of your day-to-day routine

    Your Diet and Potatoes for:

    • Breakfast: serve a boiled potato beside your scrambled eggs.
    • Lunch: another boiled potato compliments any salad.
    • Dinner: enjoy a baked potato alongside a lean cut of meat.
    • No matter the meal, you can easily work more potatoes into your diet.

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    Improve Your Sleep Quality

    If you have trouble falling asleep at night or youre waking up during the night, try to do something relaxing before going to bed. You can also try to take some natural sleep supplements that will calm you down and help you sleep like a baby.

    Also, avoid doing work and bright screens in the late hours. Make sure your bedroom is dark and cool so you can fall asleep easier and have better sleep quality.

    You can also put a diffuser with calming down essential oils like lavender, chamomile, and sage.

    Try to stick to a sleeping routine instead of going to bed and waking up at different times. This will help your body and your hormones to follow a pattern and youll achieve better balance.

    And try to sleep as much as you can. Your body needs it to recover.

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