How You Can Avoid Holiday Weight Gain This Season

Dr. Enrique Jacome

During menopause and andropause, your body’s cortisol levels rise dramatically. Cortisol is the hormone commonly related to stress and during the holidays stress is felt by many. Cortisol helps the body use sugar and fat for energy. As levels rise, the rate of this function slows down; as a result, metabolism also slows. As you age, your muscle mass decreases which slows the rate that your body can use calories. This loss combined with high cortisol levels make it difficult not to gain weight as you age.

The holiday season is known for its abundance of sweets and piles of food. It’s difficult to find a holiday recipe that doesn’t have a pound of butter and sugar so how are you expected to avoid the excess weight gain during this time of year?

Exercise – It’s difficult during the most wonderful time of year to get to the gym but doing just that could help you reduce some of that holiday stress. While you exercise, endorphins are released in your brain that make you feel better. Allowing yourself to focus on one task can help you release stress and feel refreshed. Research has also shown that regular exercise can help improve self-confidence and anxiety making the holiday season a more important time than ever to stick to an exercise routine or start one!

Drink Water - While you’re enjoying your meal, put down the holiday cocktail and help yourself to a glass of water. You will avoid drinking empty calories and providing your body with hydration that can help you feel full faster.

Portion Control – Instead of filling your plate up with mountains of your favorite holiday treats, limit yourself to small portions of them. If you still think you are hungry after you finish, try waiting fifteen minutes before getting seconds to allow your brain to register that you have already eaten.

Bio-Identical Hormone Pellet Therapy – The SottoPelle® Method helps the body release hormone when it is needed and decrease it when requiring less 24/7 improving a vast number of symptoms related to andropause and menopause. Some symptoms the SottoPelle® Method helps improve are anxiety, depression, fatigue, difficulty losing weight, increased body fat, and carbohydrate cravings. The holidays seem synonymous with many of these symptoms so speak to your doctor about how SottoPelle® can help you.

Enjoy Yourself – The holidays are a chance for many to reconnect with friends and family. Instead of obsessing over calories, spend your time cherishing your loved ones and counting the blessings the year has brought you. Make healthy choices but remember to enjoy yourself.

There is nothing better than giving yourself the gift of health this holiday season with SottoPelle®.

www.sottopelletherapy.com/doctors/enrique-jacome-md