Pie. Donuts. Cookies. Stuffing. Egg Nog.
Family stress. Traveling. Not enough exercise.
If you’re anticipating any of those factors making an appearance in your life over the next few weeks, chances are you’re also scared of the extra weight that might also make an experience on your body.
Have no fear, ladies.
Your expert hormone hacker Alisa is here!
The biggest mistake women make over the holidays, in my opinion, is that they leave their hormones out of the equation. There’s actually a profound science to weight loss that takes place in your endocrine system.
So if you’re just going for the typical less food + more exercise equation, then you’re setting yourself up for failure and missing out on one of your biggest allies!
Especially for those of us who are prone to period problems and hormonal imbalances, this science is a must-know! Your hormones have a HUGE impact on your weight, and so if you’re not addressing these key points, you’re making your period problems and your weight struggles much worse than they need to be.
Here’s why typical dieting doesn’t work:
If you’re living on just green juice or another calorie-restricted diet all day before hitting up the holiday dinner party, you might think that you’re saving yourself a boat load of calories so that you’ll be more free to eat what you want at the event.
The reality?
You’re putting your body into high-alert stress mode. Your hypothalamus (in your brain) senses the lack of glucose coming into the bloodstream, and so it sends signals via the pituitary gland to have your liver and adrenal glands step in and help out by releasing stored sugar into the bloodstream.
What happens is that your body holds onto the fat stores it has, because it’s in starvation mode, and doesn’t know when the next meal is coming.
It will also be really difficult to avoid overdoing the sweets and carbs and alcohol – because your brain will be craving them!
Here’s how to use science to avoid weight-gain:
Instead of falling into that trap, how about a new approach?
To start, eating a balanced breakfast will help ease your hypothalamus and prevent it from sending out the stress signals! A combination of protein and complex carbohydrates is usually the best way to do this.
Try: a veggie egg scramble with sprouted grain toast or steel cut oats with nuts or seeds. Accompany it with a fiber supplement like ground flax seeds for an extra satiating boost!
You’ll also want to support your liver throughout the holidays and beyond.
The liver is responsible for removing toxins from the body and it does this by turning fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble toxins so they can be excreted through your large intestine, kidneys, and skin. However, when your hormones are out of balance or stuck in stress mode, your liver’s function is compromised and can’t work as efficiently at removing these toxins.
Therefore, your body clings to those fat-soluble toxins for dear life! It holds them in your fat tissue in order to protect your liver from a toxic load it won’t be able to handle. But then, unlucky for you, those fat tissues become really difficult to shed – unless, of course, you do what’s necessary to help out your liver.
Try: adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to your water in the morning and throughout the day. Incorporate a liver-supportive supplement like Milk Thistle, and follow these tips to avoid the holiday hangover.
Want to keep the weight off for good?
I have a brand new program designed to help you do this! It isn’t opening until January 1st, but…
By subscribing here, you’ll get the chance to save hundreds of dollars, access pre-registration before any spots are filled, and you’ll receive a few extra bonuses you won’t find anywhere else.
Oops! We could not locate your form.
Hi Alisa!
As a former client, I know you are AWESOME! You have helped me and so many others! You taught me how to nourish and love my body properly. Thank you and congratulations on your book Woman Code! I would love for you to share on my blogtalk radio show. All the best, Cynthia Walker
I love your advice and always get something from reading it – even just a reminder of how enjoyable it is to live healthily!
I’ve struggled with PCOS style symptoms since my teens and have followed various protocols And drug prescriptions to regulate my period, stop acne & manage blood sugar.
Recently I was finally lucky enough for an alternative health practitioner to tell me to get tested for something called pyrolls disorder. It manifests like PCOS but is a genetic zinc & B6 deficiency. It’s totally treatable with the pfeiffer method of medical grade mineral supplements and has changed everything in just 3 months about my cycle, mood, skin & metabolism.
I’m posting this for anyone who keeps getting mixed answers from cyst scans & hormone tests and feels instinctively that they’ve not yet gotten to the root of what their body is trying to tell them.
Best of luck with your wellness journey xx
This new program sounds very exciting. I have already participated in one on one consultations, have access to all of the video and forum, and have read Woman Code. Will this program offer something more? Is it right for me?
Thanks so much for this article and the recording. I sharply changed my holiday habits after listening. Kale and smoothies made their way back into my life. Vegetarian meals. And walking! I still eat a couple of bites of the holiday fare. But I go right back to the program.
Happy Holidays!
so happy to hear this!!! as long as your foundation is good, a few bites won’t be a problem! xo