The "Pause" Blog
"My purpose in life is to learn how to make my "Third Act" of life AWESOME."
"My God-given purpose is to share what I have learned with others."
I call the system I have developed to optimize our hormones and weight while in our "Third Acts" of life, The HOPE Protocol. I should have called it The HOPE Rope because it has four strands that need to be intertwined. The HOPE Rope is what we will use to pull ourselves out of The Hormone Abyss.
Because...
"We are nothing more than a reflection of our hormones."
HOPE
Hormone Optimization
Organic Sustenance
Purification Protocols
Enlightenment Coaching
Today's Hack on how to look and feel awesome during your "Third Act" of life is from The Hormone Strand.
HORMONE STRAND HACK
"Doc, I get it! The first condition that causes a plethora of menopausal symptoms is called Estrogen Dominance. I have taken the quiz you provided and flunked. I went ahead and ordered the test kit that you provided an Amazon link for and it should be here next week. I also ordered DIM that you wrote about in the last class and began taking that last week. What's next?"
I promise you that you can balance your hormones and eliminate the plethora of symptoms Estrogen Dominance causes and it can all be done naturally.
Phase One of HOPE is all about taming Estrogen Dominance.
Estrogen Dominance is the chasm that has grown between two of your ovarian hormones, (progesterone and estradiol). Before entering menopause, these two hormones danced a beautiful dance. When you enter into menopause, which I define as not ovulating, your ovaries no longer produce progesterone. Estradiol loses its dancing partner. One of progesterone's main functions is to keep estradiol in check.
I want you to imagine Vicky and me dancing. I'm not talking about me dancing like Beaver in a Leave it to Beaver episode. Imagine us dancing like we were ballroom dancers cutting the rug like a couple of pros. I'm spinning her and dipping her and even throwing her up in the air and catching her. Remember, this is me fantasizing. We are amazing.
Now I want to be transparent, I have two left feet. I am what I would call a voyeur dancer, meaning I sit on the sideline and watch Vicky dance. She usually has to dance with her female friends because if she danced with me she would have her toes broken.
In this vision, Vicky and I started dancing really close and in constant touch with each other. As the vision unfolds, she started dancing around me. She would circle me, and circle me and circle me getting further and further away as she made each circle.
She eventually is so far away, I could barely make her out and she eventually disappears.
This is what happens to Estradiol and Progesterone. Estradiol is me and Progesterone is Vicky. As you stop ovulating, progesterone becomes less and less until it becomes a shadow. Estradiol loses its dancing partner and women will suffer from a plethora of symptoms...
Rapid Weight Gain
Weight Loss Resistance
Sleeping Disorders
Anxiety
Depression
Loss of interest in being intimate
Loss of motivation to be social
So...if you came to me and said what is the best route to take to eliminate Estrogen Dominance, I would teach you how to get Progesterone dancing with Estradiol again.
Because...I truly believe the "who-saids" misnamed Estrogen Dominance. I believe it should be called Progesterone Deficiency.
Progesterone
Recall in a woman's typical 28-day cycle, estradiol increases, and increases until it hits its target on or about the 14th day. Once estradiol hits its mark, you ovulate. From the spot on the ovary where your egg is released, the ovary releases progesterone.
If you do not ovulate, your ovaries do not release progesterone. The lack of progesterone production is the primary cause of Estrogen Dominance.
Many of my colleagues nicknamed progesterone the cuddle hormone. I call Progesterone the sixties hormone; it's all about peace, love, and flower power. Progesterone is the singing, dancing, and whistling hormone. Progesterone is THE HAPPY HORMONE.
Progesterone is also indirectly a woman's fat-burning hormone. It's not an efficient fat-burning hormone, but progesterone is all you have when it comes to menopausal women. Progesterone becomes your fat-burning hormone indirectly because it keeps estradiol’s ability to store fat in check.
Progesterone is also your sleep hormone. It puts you to sleep and keeps you asleep.
And Progesterone does so much more...
Progesterone and Insulin
Another reason progesterone is essential at this stage in life is that it lowers insulin levels. In Phase One of HOPE, we are working hard to keep insulin bottomed out. When insulin bottoms out, insulin's twin hormone, glucagon, is released. Insulin opens the entrance doors to the cells and allows the blood sugar to pass into the cell where it is converted to fat and stored.
Glucagon opens the exit doors to the cells and lets the fat flow out of the cell in the form of triglycerides. The Triglycerides flow to your liver and your liver turns the triglycerides into fuel.
Estrogen Dominance, Insulin, and Low Blood Sugar
When you're estrogen dominant, you will have higher insulin levels and store fat. Higher insulin levels will also cause you to suffer from lower blood sugar. Low blood sugar will cause voracious hunger and cravings.
Lowered blood sugar is one of the reasons women crave sweets when they are in their cycle's premenstrual stage.
Progesterone and Inflammation
Progesterone decreases inflammation. Progesterone being an anti-inflammatory is another reason many look at progesterone as their best friend during Phase One of HOPE. Inflammation is what will most likely end your life. It is the primary cause of most cancers, diabetes, heart disease, strokes, and Alzheimer's.
Inflammation is the primary cause of hormonal disruption and obesity.
Progesterone and Sleep
Estrogen has an excitatory effect on the brain. That's why women with Estrogen Dominance have sleeping disorders. Recall that your body produces hormones while you sleep. Not having a great night's sleep has been shown to cause you to overeat and have less energy. Not sleeping, overeating, and having less energy will cause weight gain.
Progesterone improves sleep by calming the brain.
Progesterone and Body Bloat.
Estrogen retains water. Supplementing with progesterone will help eliminate the bloat caused by hormonal chaos.
Progesterone is a natural diuretic.
After Vicky's Estrogen Dominance Saliva Test indicated that she was moderately Estrogen Dominant, she began using low doses of progesterone cream. You should never take progesterone without first being diagnosed that you are Estrogen Dominant or that your progesterone is deficient. And always seek the counsel of your healthcare practitioner before taking any supplement.
You no longer need a prescription to purchase progesterone, And it is much more affordable over the counter than from a pharmacist. Here are the different progesterone creams that Vicky and our clients have used. If you would like to investigate the cream, click on the links provided and you will be taken to Amazon.
Kokoro is probably the cream with the most accolades. Vicky and my clients have not used it that much, so I cannot say to use it one way or another.
Vicky has probably used this cream more than any other. I am not fond of this cream. This cream has fat burners that may disrupt sleep. I have also had women complain about its fragrance. Internal Harmony cream has 25 milligrams of progesterone per dose, 5 mg more than most. It also has a couple of B vitamins and vitamins E and D within the cream. All are essential to our program.
This cream is my favorite. This cream has 20 milligrams of progesterone per 1/4 teaspoon. It is my favorite because I have never heard anyone complain about it. It is also paraben and fragrance-free. You will soon discover that this is favorable.
This one is the tried and true progesterone cream. I have never heard any of our clients or past patients complain about this cream. I do remember a couple of problems with the pump malfunctioning, but nothing serious.
How To Apply Progesterone Creams
Remember, do you not use progesterone cream without first consulting your health care provider. Below is for information purposes only.
Vicky would rub the cream thoroughly where her chin touched her sternum when she flexed her head forward. All hormone creams must be used on thin skin and it is good practice to move your application to a different part of your body each month.
Progesterone will make your skin thicker, therefore, if you apply the cream at the same location each time, making absorption an issue. Other locations that have thin skin are your inner arms, inner thighs, and ankles.
Postmenopause Application
I had Vicky apply the cream for 25 days, then take three days off.
Pre-menopause Application
If Vicky were still menstruating, she would use half a dose (⅛ teaspoon or one-half of a pump) of progesterone for 14 days, then a full dose (¼ teaspoon or a complete pump) for 14 days. Then take three days off.
Vicky made sure not to bathe for a couple of hours after applying progesterone cream. If she was going to be intimate, she used the cream after intimacy.
Update: I recently heard of a unique way to apply hormone creams that makes total sense.
Rub the cream on your ankles and cover your ankles with socks while you sleep so you don't inadvertently pass the cream to your loved ones.
Though Vicky cycled her cream and still does today, most of my menopausal clients like to use progesterone cream daily. The reason is that when they take a three-day break, they crash. Meaning the benefits, like less anxiety, better sleep, and less depression, came back.
At these low doses, I have yet to hear of any adverse side effects from my clients.
In a nutshell, we have found that low progesterone levels are the primary cause of what physicians call the triad of menopausal psychosis, sleeping disorders, anxiety, and depression.
If you would like to know how to eliminate Estrogen Dominance quickly, schedule a conversation with me to discuss your symptoms and I will also explain precisely what else we did to alleviate estrogen dominance.
Because...your grandchildren want you to dance at their weddings.
Because...Research has shown you live as long as your waist is small.
“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone”--Pablo Picasso
PROGESTERONE QUOTE
"If there was an elixir for Estrogen Dominance, there's not, the closest tool I have ever seen is 20 mg of progesterone applied daily." Doc Mac
ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY
This is our client Alisa. Balancing her hormones, eating the Protable Menu, optimizing her liver, and being coached by me transformed her body.
"It's all about your hormones."
THE HORMONE ABYSS
Phase One...
Weight Gain
Weight Loss Resistance
Sleeping Disorders
Hormonal Induced Anxiety
Hormonal Induced Depression
Loss of Interest in Being Intimate
Loss of Motivation to be Social
Phase Two...
Marked Loss of Energy
Goldilock's Syndrome (It has to be just the right temperature, or you're miserable)
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Loss of Hair
Aged Skin
Laziness
Phase Three...
Inability to Wake Alert
Body Aches and Pains Upon Arising
Irritability, Aggravation, and Anger about things that should not make you Irritable, Aggravated, or Angry.
Brain Fog
Forgetfulness
Our coaching program provides...
Daily Statistical Texting that provides supervised accountability.
Our week-to-week instructional course on how to optimize your hormones and weight.
24/7 access to me via texting for solutions to any challenges you face during the day.
You will receive motivational phone calls from me when you feel like giving up.
SELFIE OF THE WEEK
Me, Vicky, our daughter Brittany, and Rojelio at his first birthday party.
Because...
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR HORMONES!
If you would like more information about our coaching program, visit our website
If you have a quick question, please don't email me...
Text me @ 209-345-9799
© 2022 | Doc Mac Coaching
None of the statements on this website have been evaluated by the FDA.
Furthermore, none of the statements within this post should be construed as dispensing medical advice, making claims regarding the cure of diseases, nor can these products prevent disease. You should consult a licensed healthcare professional before starting any supplement, dietary, or exercise program, especially if you are pregnant or have any pre-existing injuries or medical conditions. The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diseases.
Comments