• In this episode we are focusing on the intricate processes that can impact weight management beyond just diet and exercise. 💡 Understanding how these hormones influence appetite can help you in your weight management journey, and sustaining weight loss. 

In this episode we are focusing on the intricate processes that can impact weight management beyond just diet and exercise. 💡 The hunger hormones – an often overlooked aspect of weight loss. These pesky enzymes play a huge role in how we lose or gain weight. Many of my weight-loss coaching clients are surprised to learn about appetite hormones. Let’s look into weight-loss and hunger hormones and keep it simple.

Understanding Hunger Hormones

Ghrelin is your hunger hormone, mainly released from the stomach. It tells your brain when it’s time to eat. On the flip side, leptin, secreted from fat cells, signals satiety, telling your brain you’re full. The balance (or imbalance) of these hormones significantly affects your appetite and weight management.

The Complexity of Appetite Hormones

Appetite hormones work in a complex network with your brain. Leptin resistance can happen when there’s too much leptin, leaving you feeling hungry even when you shouldn’t be. Similarly to insulin resistance, leptin resistance is closely linked with body fat levels.

When you lose weight, your ghrelin levels increase, making you hungrier—your body’s natural way of maintaining balance or homeostasis. This means it’s crucial to work with your body’s signals rather than against them.

How to Manage Hunger Hormones for Weight Loss

1. Be Patient: Weight loss is a journey—aim for slow, steady progress to help keep your hunger hormones balanced. Think one to two pounds a week.
2. Exercise Regularly: Especially focus on high-intensity workouts and building muscle mass. This helps regulate ghrelin and improves overall metabolic control.
3. Healthy Eating Habits: Opt for whole foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Avoid processed and sugary foods which spike hunger hormones. Fiber-rich foods help prolong satisfaction and balance hunger.
4. Prioritize Sleep: Sleep is crucial in regulating hormones like ghrelin. Lack of sleep can increase appetite and lead to weight gain, so aim for at least eight hours a night.
5. Stay Hydrated: Increasing the volume in your stomach with water and broths can help manage appetite signals effectively.

Get to Know Your Body

Being in tune with your body helps you understand what triggers your hunger and what keeps it at bay. Mindful eating and stress reduction are also key factors in maintaining a healthy weight and hormone balance. Slow down and listen to what your body needs, and you’ll find harmony with your hunger hormones.

Hunger hormones are a vital part of the weight-loss puzzle that we don’t talk about nearly enough. As you journey through weight loss, keep these tips in mind to use your hormones to your advantage.

Tune in to discover the strategies to navigate through the dynamic relationship between weight loss, hunger hormones, and achieving long-term weight management goals.

🌟🍽️ #WeightLossJourney #HungerHormones #HealthyWeightManagement #9to5WellnessShow

Research study on Ghrelin –https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212877815000605?via%3Dihub

Discovery of Ghrelin in 1999 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212877815000605#:~:text=In%201999%2C%20Masayasu%20Kojima%2C%20Kenji,anterior%20pituitary%20gland%20%5B1%5D.