Hormone Balance: what you need to know about your hormones and your weight
ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Rachael Lewis interviews Dr. Becky Lynn, gynecologist and menopause specialist on hormonal balance, how hormones affect your metabolism leading to weight gain.
Rachael: Hi Dr. Becky, we are so excited to learn more about your business, Evora! Can you briefly explain your background?
Dr. Lynn: Yes! I am a board certified gynecologist and a specialist in menopause and female sexual health with over 20 years in practice. I am also a North American Menopause Society(NAMS) certified physician and a certified sexual counselor.
Rachael: What do you specialize in?
Dr. Lynn: I specialize in menopause and sexual health and these commonly go hand in hand. Menopause encompasses everything from preventative care and cancer screening, to treatment of hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings, brain fog and sleep disorders. When it comes to sexual health, we treat low libido, painful sex, orgasm and arousal difficulties in women of all ages. Couples counseling is another service I provide as often patients need help explaining the process to their partner, discussing sexual concerns, and maybe working through difficulties or communication issues in their relationship. Because weight gain is so common in menopause, I also offer a weight management program. I help women lose weight in conjunction with you and our nutritionist Katie. We have had many happy customers.
Rachael: How are our hormones affected as we age?
Dr. Lynn: Our hormones change throughout our lifespan and this can significantly affect how we feel. Estrogen levels starts to change in general in your 40s. This can lead to irregular periods, mood swings, sleep problems and weight gain. Our testosterone levels start to decline in our late 20s, and early 30s, leading to fatigue, low libido and a decrease in muscle mass. Getting your hormones in balance can help with these symptoms.
Rachael: Why are so many women today at younger ages already experiencing hormone imbalance symptoms?
Dr. Lynn: We always think of menopause happening at age 50 but the symptoms can start in your early 40s and for some women it starts even earlier.
Rachael: How does diet and lifestyle relate to hormone imbalance?
Diet and exercise can sometimes help rebalance certain hormone levels. For example, some women have polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS). Their ovaries may make too much testosterone and estrogen not enough progesterone if/when they don’t ovulate. People with PCOS are more likely to have insulin resistance, meaning your pancreas has to put out more insulin to get glucose into your cells. Insulin makes you deposit fat and gain weight. When you gain weight, you become more insulin resistant and you fall into a vicious cycle of more weight gain. Lifestyle changes, like a healthy, protein-based diet and exercise can help break the cycle. Many times, when women with PCOS lose weight, their hormones go back into balance.
Rachael: Is there a relationship you find between metabolic rate (ability to burn calories/expend energy) and Hormone Balance?
Dr. Lynn: Absolutely! This is so important to menopausal women because when you go through menopause your ovaries stop making estrogen. Low estrogen levels lead to insulin resistance. Similar to PCOS, insulin resistance leads to your body making more insulin which makes you gain weight. Hormone replacement therapy in women has been shown to improve insulin resistance, which is so important to a healthy body weight.
Also, when estrogen levels decline, women’s bodies tend to be less muscular and more fat than when their hormones were at normal levels. This leads to a lower metabolic rate than previously, making it harder to lose weight or making it so you have to eat fewer calories to maintain your weight.
Lastly, after menopause, women tend to deposit more fat around their middle and less on their hips and bust. This leads to a higher risk of cardiometabolic diseases, like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Rachael: What do you wish all women knew related to our health or hormones specifically?
Dr. Lynn: I feel like there is still so much misinformation concerning hormone therapy out there. Women don’t know who to trust or what to believe. I want women to know that hormones have incredible benefits to your health. Like all medicines, they have side effects and risks too and they aren’t the answer for everything or everybody.
This is why it is so important to find a physician who is a hormone specialist and a NAMS certified one!
Rachael: What made you decide to start your own business?
Dr. Lynn: I love taking care of patients, especially women in midlife. There are many important topics to cover during a visit that are important to your overall health, well-being and quality of life. I feel strongly that women need more than a 10 minute visit with their doctor in order to meet their health needs. I found that I could not do this as an employed physician working in a large practice. My schedule was always over booked and I would be running behind. Starting my own business has allowed me to limit the number of patients that I see and give my patients all the time, information, and discussion that they need during a visit. At Evora, we never rush. We listen, evaluate the issues and then come up with a plan personalized just for you.
Rachael: How does your service differ from a traditional doctor office visit?
Dr. Lynn: We differ from traditional medicine in numerous ways:
1. My practice focuses on your overall health and well-being, not just your symptoms.
2. We spend an hour with you on the first visit so we can address both prevention and all of your concerns. We always give you the time that you need.
3. We devote all of our time directly to you. Because of this, we do not accept insurance for doctor visits. You can still use your insurance for any testing or imaging that we order. You can always submit to your own insurance for reimbursement or you can use a health savings account or flexible spending account to pay for services. We give you all of the documentation that you need to submit. This way all of our resources are devoted to you, not to collecting from insurance.
Rachael: Last one, what is your favorite thing to do when you’re not at the office treating patients?
Running! I love running. It takes me to my happy place, not to mention exercise is so good for your moods and it keeps my weight in check. My family knows, early in the mornings if mom is not home, she is out running!
Dr. Becky Kaufman Lynn is a gynecologist and the founder of the Evora Women’s Health. She is a North American Menopause Society Certified Physician who has been treating menopausal women for over 20 years. Her practice is located in Chesterfield just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Lynn offers a comprehensive midlife wellness program helping women lead healthy lives. Go to evorawomen.com for more information about her practice or to schedule an appointment or send us an email at info@evorawomen.com
Rachael Lewis is a fitness professional who has touched the lives of countless women - helping them move forward in their health and wellness. Rachael currently is an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer who has worked for ten years in multiple sports, corporate and community settings. Rachael believes that every body adapts and responds to exercise differently. Her goal is to create a sustainable exercise regimen that you are able to maintain through the rest of your life. Rachael is the founder of A Perfect Fit, a concierge culinary service. Offering in home cooking and personal grocery shopping, A Perfect Fit allows you to stop stressing over preparing whole meals for you or your family. A Perfect Fit takes care of it for you!
