How to Lose Weight While on Hormone Replacement Therapy
The female body goes through many changes throughout life due to fluctuating hormones. Some of the most significant changes occur around the time of menopause. It’s common to notice a remarkable difference in how you look and feel as you approach this phase of life. Unwanted weight gain is one of the most universal complaints. Fortunately, you can address menopause-related weight gain with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Many women feel stronger, healthier, and fitter as they use HRT to help support their aging bodies. Hormone replacement therapy and weight loss often go hand in hand.
Not everyone loses weight on HRT, but many do. It’s important to adopt healthy lifestyle habits if you want to get the best results from your treatments. Here are a few things you should know about hormone imbalances and how to lose weight while on hormone replacement therapy.
How Hormones Affect Weight
Your hormones regulate practically every function in your body. They can control your sleep cycles, your mood, your digestion, and your weight. Estrogen and progesterone are two of the most important hormones in the female body. They play a key role in weight management. If they become imbalanced or if their levels plummet (as commonly occurs during menopause), it becomes increasingly challenging to drop weight. This is especially true when it comes to the abdominal area, which is why many older women struggle with extra fat in that area.
When you receive hormone therapy to bring your hormones back into better balance, you may find it easier to drop weight. For some women, HRT and weight loss are like a match made in heaven. Many people also discover that they have more energy and are more alert while on hormone therapy. Here are some signs you may have a hormone imbalance and could benefit from learning how to lose weight while on hormone replacement therapy.
Signs You May Have a Hormone Imbalance
Hormone imbalances can be sneaky because their symptoms sometimes mimic illnesses or other health conditions. For example, excessive tiredness from low estrogen could easily be mistaken for an illness or insufficient sleep. Similarly, someone could easily misattribute mood swings from low testosterone or progesterone to anxiety, depression, or some other mental health disorder. Here are some of the most common symptoms of hormone imbalances.
- Weight gain
- Chronic headaches
- Adult acne
- “Brain fog”
- Difficulty remembering things
- Menstrual cycle irregularities
- Mood swings
- Low libido
- Joint pain
- Excessively dry skin
- Constipation, bloating, diarrhea, and other digestive problems
- Depression
- Vaginal dryness
- Changes in breast tissue density
- Chronic fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
If you have more than one of these symptoms at a time, it’s a good indicator that your hormones are to blame. HRT and weight loss could change your life for the better once you learn how to lose weight while on hormone replacement therapy.
Related Reading: What are the Signs That You Need Hormone Replacement Therapy?>>
How Hormone Replacement Therapy Works
Not all types of HRT are the same. Some use synthetic hormones, while others use bioidentical hormones that are more efficacious and have fewer side effects. Hormone therapy can come in a variety of forms for both men and women, including pills, patches, creams, and pellets. Many patients prefer pellets because they are bioidentical and more compatible with the human body. They also release slowly and only need replacement once every few months.
If you opt to receive pellet HRT, your provider will carefully inject the pellet just beneath your skin. They painstakingly numb the area beforehand so you don’t feel much at all. The hip is the most popular injection area because it has a higher fat composition. Therefore, it is one of the least painful injection sites in the body. After injection, your provider closes the tiny wound to keep microbes out and facilitate healing.
How to Lose Weight While on Hormone Replacement Therapy
As mentioned, hormone replacement therapy and weight loss go hand in hand for many people. But if you want to maximize your weight loss on HRT, there are a few things you can do. Here are some of the lifestyle changes and interventions you might consider if you’re trying to reach your ideal weight while receiving hormone therapy.
Change Your Diet
The old saying “You are what you eat” may be overused, but that doesn’t make it any less true. The human body doesn’t thrive on highly processed foods and sugary treats. Overeating those types of foods can wreak havoc on your hormones and cause your body to hold onto excess fat. If you want to know how to lose weight while on hormone replacement therapy, it’s essential to eat healthfully.
People have different ideas about what constitutes a “healthy” diet. Some people insist extreme fad diets are the ticket to health and longevity. But in most cases, these types of highly restrictive diets aren’t sustainable and can result in weight rebounds when you give them up. Most experts recommend a more moderate and sustainable approach to dieting. Think of your fueling habits as a permanent way of eating instead of a temporary diet.
Some classic healthy eating recommendations include consuming fewer carbs and eating more whole foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Choose lean sources of protein and opt for white meat over red meat. Don’t forget to include healthy fats such as those found in avocados, nuts, and olive oil. Finally, try to cut low-nutrition, high-calorie foods, and drinks from your diet. They don’t benefit your body at all and make it much harder to learn how to lose weight while on hormone replacement therapy.
Get Daily Exercise
Daily physical activity should be part of every hormone replacement therapy and weight loss plan. Physical exertion is so important for maintaining optimal hormone balance. It can also help you hang onto more of your lean muscle, which tends to decline with age. The best exercise regimens alternate between cardiovascular and strength training workouts. Both types are necessary for maintaining optimal health and fitness.
Don’t forget to stretch before and after every workout to keep your body limber. Many older individuals love working Yoga into their regular exercise routines. It helps maximize flexibility and reduce some of the joint stiffness that often occurs later in life.
Use HRT and Semaglutide Together
If you’re serious about learning how to lose weight while on hormone replacement therapy, consider taking hormone replacement therapy and semaglutide together. This combination can help supercharge weight loss, no matter your age. Semaglutide is a highly popular medication used for type 2 diabetes and weight loss. It decreases appetite, slows digestion, and improves blood glucose levels. It also regulates insulin, which plays a key role in weight management. You can also use Semaglutide compounded with vitamins to enhance well-being.
Women of all ages can benefit from using semaglutide with HRT. These treatments are not just for those going through menopause. Many younger women struggle with weight gain due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), genetics, medications, or other issues. In these types of situations, semaglutide can work wonders when combined with HRT and healthy lifestyle changes. These two treatments can also help men of all ages who struggle with weight management, muscle loss, low libido, and other common hormone imbalance symptoms.
Get Higher-Quality Sleep
Insufficient sleep or poor quality sleep can lead to hormone imbalances. The occasional night of bad sleep may not be enough to have a negative impact. But if you’re consistently getting to bed too late and getting up too early, you’ll eventually develop negative health repercussions.
Improve your sleep schedule by avoiding blue light at least a couple of hours before bed. The easiest way to do this is by turning your electronics off in the evening. You can also encourage your body to relax and release sleep hormones by taking a bath, stretching, or drinking chamomile tea before bed. Keeping the temperature low in your bedroom can also help you doze off faster and experience quality sleep.
How Long Does It Take Hormone Replacement Therapy to Work?
You may not see the effects of hormone replacement therapy for a couple of weeks after you begin treatment. This isn’t unusual. Most medications and supplements take at least two weeks to start working. Your provider might recommend that you start with a three-month HRT trial. This will give you and your provider time to see how your body responds to the treatment. After the initial trial period, your provider may adjust the dosage as needed to ensure minimal side effects.
How Long Should a Woman Be on Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Your provider is the best person to consult with regarding how long you should take HRT. Some women get excellent results after just a few months of treatment. Others may need to receive hormone therapy longer than that to manage their symptoms. It’s important to note that long-term use does increase the risk of certain complications like blood clots, heart attacks, breast cancer, and strokes. However, the risk of complications with implantable tablet hormones is rarer than you may think. Still, most women choose to receive HRT for five years or fewer.
Schedule Your HRT and Semaglutide Appointment Today
If you’re a woman struggling with excess weight and other unwanted hormone imbalance symptoms, learning how to lose weight while on hormone replacement therapy can change your life for the better. Along with wise lifestyle habits, these treatments can support healthy aging and help you stay strong, fit, and confident throughout life. Schedule your HRT and semaglutide treatment with Metrowest Medical Wellness today and discover how HRT can help you reclaim your quality of life and feel like your normal self again.
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