10/04/2020
Under normal circumstances, estrogen and progesterone work together. Estrogen causes fat storage around the hips, butt, breast and thighs, and when acting with progesterone, keeps fat from being stored around the middle of the body. Both hormones also interact with receptors all over the body including in the fat tissues, muscle cells, brain, ovaries, uterus and breasts.
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When estrogen and progesterone are working together in harmony they are responsible for that beautiful hourglass shape that is the hallmark of the gorgeous female body. But when progesterone is no longer exerting influence, and estrogen is forced to do all the work itself, its levels will rise and fall unpredictably.
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This low progesterone level, with an on-again-off-again estrogen exposure is also common in women under stress. Both peri-menopause & excess stress are situations where female metabolism has decided devoting resources to making babies is either not possible (peri-menopause) or not wise (stress).
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It is less understood, but extremes in diet and exercise can lead to this type of stress effect. A female body that is too lean is a trigger for this hormonal rollercoaster. It is unfortunate, but each woman’s body fat threshold is different. Some women can get leaner than others before the body reacts negatively. One may react this way at low 20% body fat and the other at mid teen % body fat
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When estrogen is high sometimes and low other times, the tissues it signals become irregular in their function too. One minute the tissues and cells of the body see high estrogen and the next they see low. Rarely do they see normal levels. This is not a good outcome for the metabolism.
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My point is that peri-menopause & female stress reactions can feel incredibly random. It can drive you crazy trying to keep up. As a result, you may be feeling motivated and clear one second, wired and anxious the next and depressed the next. No two days will feel exactly the same. You can feel like you are going a little crazy. This chart shows just how wild the estrogen rollercoaster ride can be during the different life stages.
