It's the ultimate battle of the bulge. We're talking about the fight against unsightly belly fat that seems to increase with age. As they get older, women and men are saddled with the roly-poly appearance that leaves them feeling frustrated, self-conscious and unhappy with their overall appearance.
A hot new book is determined to help readers say goodbye to their protruding pooches forever. In From Belly Fat to Belly Flat: How Hormones Are Adding Inches to Your Waist and Subtracting Years from Your Life (HCI, 2008), authors Dr. C.W. Randolph and Genie James get to the heart of metabolic matter by targeting the cause of those sagging stomachs.
Although he is largely recognized for his work in natural medicine, Dr. Randolph is both a trained pharmacist and a board-certified gynecologist. James, meanwhile, is Executive Director of Women Evolving, LLC Inc. and the co-founder of the Natural Hormone Institute of America, while also working as a healthcare consultant, professional speaker and author.
Based on years of research, hands-on experience and work with thousands of patients, they contend that a shift in hormone production and balance that occurs naturally with age is the real culprit causing those pounds to pack around the middle. To battle the bulge, the belly-fat-fighting duo have come up with a slimming solution based on three simple principles:
1. Restore hormone balance naturally via bio-identical hormone replacement therapies (BHRT).
2. Follow a nutritional program (outlined in the book), including foods and supplements that help support the body's optimum hormone balance.
3. De-stress and sleep more. Stress and sleeplessness also do a number on hormone balance.
The foundation of their program is bio-identical progesterone cream. It may sound like smoke and mirrors to skeptics, especially to those who don't lend any credence to topical creams. However, the two authors maintain that their formula for fighting belly fat works where most other programs fail. In this MyDailyMoment exclusive, James and Dr. Randolph sit down to discuss From Belly Fat to Belly Flat and reveal the inside secrets of how it can work for you.
How would you describe the plan?
The book is much more than another diet book. From Belly Fat to Belly Flat is a life solution for getting off those last pounds -- whether it's 10 pounds, 30 pounds or 40 pounds -- and keeping them off forever. It addresses the underlying hormone issue that causes people to pack on pounds around their middle. It's the weight that sabotages your efforts, no matter how you eat or what exercises you do.
Who is this book for?
For women, hormone imbalances begin in their late 20s or early 30s. That's when it really starts. Your hormones start to change, and specifically, progesterone levels begin to decline. The result is a condition medically termed "estrogen dominance." For men, it happens in their late 30s to early 40s.
What are the signs of hormonal imbalances that people should be aware of?
Most people tend to think of hot flashes and night sweats as symptoms that affect a 50-year-old woman going through the change of life. However, even young women in their 20s can have hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, irritability, depression, headaches, bloating and what we call "brain fog." Sometimes their memory isn't so good. They have low libido, fatigue and weight gain. Those are some of the main symptoms of estrogen dominance.
How do you combat estrogen dominance?
You have to balance that estrogen dominance with bio-identical progesterone. Bio-identical means that the molecular structure of the hormone IS EXACTLY THE SAME as the hormone produced by the ovaries or the testes. Bio-identical progesterone is formulated in a laboratory by modifying the molecular structure of Mexican wild yam or soy. Bio-identical progesterone is most effective when applied transdermally -- to the skin. You apply a cream to your skin - the inner arms, chest, breasts and neck -- and use this cream twice daily. If you're not able to produce enough progesterone, your estrogen is higher than your progesterone, making you estrogen-dominant. Because of this, no matter how much you exercise or diet, you can't lose weight.
How does your program work?
It's a medically proven, three-step program that starts with restoring your optimal hormone equilibrium via bioidentical hormone replacement, which is the cream. The second piece is addressing the extra estrogen load through food and supplements. We define a group of belly-blaster foods -- cruciferous veggies like kale, greens, broccoli, cauliflower, as well as citrus fruits such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruits and limes. The plan also calls for insoluble fiber such as whole grains, whole oats and lignans, such as flaxseed and sesame seeds. The belly-blaster foods either help estrogen metabolize in healthy way in the body or eliminate extra estrogen through the bowels. There are also supplements. The third step is a lifestyle change to support optimal hormone balance. Stress and lack of sleep do a number on hormones and really set you up to add pounds around your middle.
Why do hormones hit the belly area so hard?
The body produces three sex hormones - estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. As you age, the production shifts. Progesterone is the first hormone that begins to decline. It declines more rapidly than estrogen levels, which is why we have estrogen dominance. Medical studies show that the presence of estrogen predisposes the body to hold onto fat around the hips, buttocks and stomach. In turn, the fat cells in the area produce more estrogen. That's when you get caught up in a vicious cycle.
How long does it take to start seeing results?
It's usually two to three weeks before people notice a change. Expect to lose eight to 12 pounds and 3 to 5 inches in the first month.
What can people expect from the plan as far as what they'll be eating?
The diet itself is a variation of the Mediterranean diet, which many physicians have given the gold stamp of approval. It emphasizes foods meant to reduce your estrogen load. I have patients who have gone on the plan individually but served their spouse the same foods they're eating, and their partners didn't even realize they were on a diet.
Where can people find the progesterone cream?
We offer a cream called the Natural Balance Cream that's offered on our Web site, www.HormoneWell.com. It was developed and approved by Dr. Randolph. We also review and approve a dozen other progesterone creams that have been tested for safety and efficacy.
To learn more about From Belly Fat to Belly Flat, visit the Hormone Well Web site and take the free hormone quiz to find out if you're estrogen dominant.