Why am I fat around the middle?

A not so simple answer... "Why am I fat around the middle?"

Hormones!

There a 6 hormones that may be responsible for your fat around the middle!

When you reach a certain age, generally around 40years ...

You will find an increase of fat around your middle, even

if you're working out and running it may be difficult to get rid of.

Why?

A Hormone Imbalance...A hormonal imbalance can happen anytime in your life.

Here are 6 hormones and some of them maybe causing you weight gain and fat around the middle.

1. estrogen
2. progesterone
3. cortisol
4. insulin
5. androgen
6. testosterone
   

Estrogen or Progesterone

Both these hormones are produced in the ovaries in women.

When you age your estrogen and progesterone levels naturally decline, 

causing a bit of havoc for your body.

Fat around the middle is among some of the signs and having you question why fat is collecting more easily.

Estrogen

When your body drops in estrogen 

you body tries to make up for the loss
by increasing fat cells,

because fat cells produce estrogen. 

Your body needs estrogen 

and what better way for the body
to get estrogen from the food you eat.

When you eat your body knows what

to do to get what it wants!

Converting food to fat!

Progesterone

When you have lower levels of progesterone you look fatter!

Why?

Because this decrease in progesterone
causes your cells in our body to hold water.

Hence you experience bloating and look and feel fatter.

Cortisol 

Is secreted by the adrenal glands in our body.

It has a very important function.

Every time you have a stressful moment it spurts out cortisol...

Stressing in front of your computer...

Figuring out what to do for dinner...

Your body thinks this is major stress, like you've been chased by a dinosaur.

Your body responds to this by releasing the hormone cortisol and

this cortisol is responsible for raising your sugar and insulin levels,

then sending a message to refuel. 

It is that fat around the middle that is cortisol happy

and alters the way we would normally store fat.

"You maybe sitting, watching someone getting chased by a dinosaur on TV, but you will have to carry the burden around your waist from this experience."

Stress is the single biggest factor in release of this hormone. 

Cortisol is responsible for your fright or flight response, and is your
 survival instinct. Your body instantly reacts to situations quickly to
keep you alert and safe.
The truth is years of being in the safe mode is wearing this system
out and slapping you in the gut with fat.

Insulin 

This is hormone released by the pancreas

and is good at controlling or regulating your sugar levels. 

When our sugars go up, so does our insulin. 

When we eat too much simple carbohydrates, 

like white breads, candy, donuts etc. 

Your body needs to control this increase, 

so releases the insulin into our system. 

If your body is overtaxed with sugary foods, 

excess insulin is release and your body has no choice 

but to convert the food you eat to stored fat. 

Androgen

A hormone hugely responsible for weight gain

and fat around your middle, 

especially during the menopausal stages of your life. 

When androgen rises because of falling estrogen and testosterone levels

it sends the message to put fat to your mid section.

One of the main purposes of the androgen

is to convert  into the female hormone estrogen 

and male hormone testosterone.

Testosterone

Is a hormone in male and females, 

testosterone levels tend to drop off during the
middle age stages in our life.

Our muscles need testosterone to build muscle.
The more muscle you have 

the faster your metabolism, 

the faster metabolism

the better your body burns calories 

and less fat stored.

I hope you enjoyed this article!

If you hold weight around your middle, what do you do about it?
Please let me know in the comment section.
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