Hormones

Most of us, at different times, have experienced hormone imbalances. We all know that hormone imbalances in women can result in hot flashes, mood swings, heavy periods or lack of sex drive. These issues often become the material for great jokes, right?!? Yes, we have to learn to laugh at ourselves, but more seriously, hormone imbalances can result in extreme discomfort, or even breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Even men can be affected by hormone fluctuations, resulting in hair loss, depression and prostate cancer! So whether your symptoms are an annoyance, or whether you’ve battled breast cancer yourself, balancing your hormones is essential. We can feel better… and we should!

Here’s a little mini-education in balancing your hormones.

PROGESTERONE

What causes hormone imbalances? Usually it’s related to a drop in progesterone. Progesterone is a hormone produced in the body which helps to regulate the menstrual cycle of women. Men also produce a small amount of progesterone, As we age, our production of this hormone declines, and after age 40 it drops off sharply. This gradually leads to menopause, and a whole host of progesterone deficiency symptoms. Think of progesterone as the regulator hormone. As progesterone drops, estrogen rises. This increase in estrogen is what causes unwanted symptoms such as weight gain, bone loss, anxiety, hot flashes, insomnia, aging and ultimately cancer. Men lacking progesterone will develop breast enlargement, depression and possibly prostate cancer. Healthy progesterone levels are absolutely vital to a comfortable and healthy life after 40!

Progesterone’s beneficial functions include:

• Decreasing heavy periods and reducing PMS symptoms
• Sedating/relaxing the body
• Improving brain function and memory
• Decreasing fat storage
• Creating younger, fuller, healthier skin
• Progesterone, when taken by an expecting mother, has even been shown to increase intelligence in their babies by 35 points!

How can you get more progesterone? There are several products you may research. Our favorites are progesterone creams which are applied topically, and a progesterone drop which is taken orally. The cream may be found at a local health food store or online. The oral drops (“Progest-E”) contain vitamin E oil to help absorption so must not be taken on phase 1 of the diet. Be sure to check with your weight loss coach if you’d like more information on ordering these products. Also, if you’d like to check your levels before beginning a progesterone regimen, Rejuvenation recommends a saliva hormone test which you can order and take yourself at home. Please ask your coach about these.

Finally, if you’re not quite convinced about the need for healthy progesterone levels, go to raypeat.com and read some of his articles regarding this hormone. Check out “Progesterone Pregnenolone & DHEA – Three Youth-Associated Hormones” While on the site, you’ll more than likely get drawn into many of his other great articles!

PREGNENOLONE

Pregnenolone is considered the raw building material for creating many other hormones. It’s also known as the protecting hormone, protecting our bodies from the negative effects of too much estrogen or cortisol, and most importantly, protecting our bodies from the effects of too much stress. Besides these general benefits, pregnenolone has been shown to:

• Increase memory
• Improve mood
• Protect the brain from the effects of fatigue
• Improve thyroid and adrenal gland function
• Most importantly, “it was proven to prevent the tumors that can be caused by estrogen”.

After the age of 40 or 45, it seems that everyone lives in a state of continuous “stress,” just as a normal part of aging. This coincides with the body’s decreased ability to produce an abundance of pregnenolone” (raypeat.com) So how can you regulate your pregnenolone levels? Once again, a saliva hormone test can lead you in the right direction. If your weight loss coach isn’t able to help you with this, have them put you in contact with our headquarters office in Springfield MO. We would be glad to get you a saliva test and point you in the right direction.

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How To Take Enzymes

How to Take Enzymes

Your enzymes are there to help you properly digest and absorb your food and pass it through. Taking them on a regular basis should help prevent constipation and aid in weight loss while on the diet! They are very helpful, but if you forget them every once in a while, no need to panic. Just resume the capsules with your next scheduled dose.

Formula 2 – These are specifically for fat digestion. Your body will be releasing stored fat cells back into your system as nutrition. We need to be sure this fat is properly eliminated from the body and taking Formula 2 will do exactly that. 2 of these should be taken 2 times daily without food.

Formula 30 – These are general digestion enzymes. They’ll be assisting you in breaking down all your foods in order for maximum absorption of nutrients and minerals. Take 2 capsules at the beginning of each meal (lunch and dinner). If you forget these at a meal, no need to add them in between meals. Just resume the scheduled dose at your next meal!

If you should run out of either of these enzymes during weight loss, please refill them for the duration of your weight loss phase. Keep taking leftover enzymes during maintenance until they are gone. We recommend staying on the enzymes throughout maintenance, but this is not required.

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Weight Loss Progress/Weight Loss Speed

How fast are you losing weight? This section is to help you determine what’s normal and what’s not.

Fat Load Days (2)
Do not expect to lose anything during these first two fat loading days. In fact, don’t even be surprised that you may gain a pound or two. No worries! It’s all getting ready to come back off.

Days 1-12
These should be your fastest losing days on the entire plan. Depending on your basal temperature, you could lose up to a pound or more per day. Those with lower basal temperatures may dip down to just .5 lb a day during or toward the end of this period.

Days 15-40
This is when most clients daily loss will slow. It’s very typical to see sporadic, unpredictable losses during this period. For example, one may lose .5 lb one day, nothing the next, then .8 lbs, then .3, then nothing, etc. This is customary on the plan and is nothing to fret over. Some however will continue to lose at faster rates.

Key Point: As long as your weight loss averages at least a half pound per day over the entire time, you are on track and there’s no reason to be concerned.

Days 40+
Many clients will begin to show immunity to the drops between days 40-45. This is evident in slowing weight loss, hunger and fatigue. It’s definitely time to go ahead and switch to the next phase when this happens. Don’t worry, you can always go on the detox again to shed more fat.

Common Question: What if I haven’t cheated and still haven’t lost anything at all for a few days?
A: Consult your weight loss coach. It is ok for the body to “take a break” from flushing out all of the toxins and fat, but sometimes there is an underlying issue that your coach can help discover and balance. However, if you should happen to get to that 3rd or 4th day and still no loss, the “Apple Protocol ” becomes necessary.

Apple Protocol: If on the third morning you weigh and still have not lost anything, or lost less than a half a pound, do not eat your regular diet meals this day. Replace them instead with six apples and water only. No tea or coffee. In fact, you’ll only need enough water just to quench your thirst, refrain from the normal recommended 64 ounces. The apples may be spaced out throughout the day however you please. They may even be baked or pureed for applesauce.

The next day you should have lost close to a pound, and should resume normal weight loss the following days. Apple Protocol should not be done more than once a week.

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