Can hormones stall your weight loss plan?

Can hormones stall your weight loss plan? (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Hormonal upheavels and downturns caused by menopause, andropause, hereditary factors, and hysterectomy can make you gain weight.

Here's how: Hormones can cause cravings, slow down metabolism and result in weight gain. Unfotunatley most of us wait till we gain weight to lose it. When signs of weight gain set in, it's time to make lifestyle changes and balance the hormones. How do you do it? Here are some steps that can help you out.

The key here is to balance metabolism to balance your hormones. These are some steps that can help you:

- Consult your doctor

- Get enough sleep

- Reduce your stress levels

- Change your diet: include different vitamins and minerals in your diet and avoid smoking, excess alcohol and artificial sweetners.

- Exercise - it will make you feel better internally and physically

Many times, a visit to the doctor along with some tests to determine hormonal imbalances is the best approach. Along with a dose of medication, the doctor will also suggest certain lifestyle changes to improve these imbalances. Interestingly, the same lifestyle changes that cure hormonal imbalances (in supplementation with mediciines) also help prevent hormonal imbalances in the first place.

For instance, abdominal obesity is related to insulin resistance, which in turn is related to hormonal imbalance. However, each person's reasons may be unique and therefore an investigation is well warranted. Often times, especially for otherwise healthy adults, unexplained weight gain in the abdominal region is a sign of hormonal imbalance.