FitSugar

Feeling Hormonal?

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:45:00 PDT

Are you feeling hormonal? Hormones course through our veins regulating so many functions (and feelings) of our bodies. They ebb and flow too, with the levels of hormones changing throughout the month. Many of our everyday actions can affect our hormone levels.

So, if you are feeling hormonal maybe this quiz will help you figure out why!

Source

Take the Quiz

Implanon Birth Control: Doesn't Sound Like Much Fun

DearSugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:00:00 PDT

Have you heard about Implanon? It's an implantable hormonal contraceptive (a flexible plastic rod about the size of a matchstick) that contains a hormone called etonogestrel (it's estrogen-free), and was approved in July 2006 by the U.S. FDA.

It's 99% effective at protecting you against pregnancy when inserted correctly, and it lasts for up to 3 years. This type of birth control is definitely for someone who is not thinking about starting a family anytime soon, or for someone who's already had kids and doesn't want to have anymore.

How does it work? Implanon is inserted through a needle into the skin of your upper arm by a doctor. The hormones are released slowly into the body which prevents you from ovulating. It must be removed, with a tiny incision, after 3 years. As soon as it's removed, you're fertile again!

What are the DISADVANTAGES? To find out

Warmth, redness, swelling, itching, pain, or oozing might occur where the implant was inserted or removed.
If Implanon is not placed properly, it may not prevent pregnancy or it may be difficult or impossible to remove. You may need special tests to check that Implanon is in place or to help find it when it's time to take it out.
Thick scar tissue can form around the insert, making it difficult to remove. You may also get a scar on your skin when Implanon is inserted or removed.
You can expect irregular or unpredictable bleeding the entire time you are using Implanon.
Many women complain of mood swings, depression, weight gain, acne, breast pain, stomach pain, swelling in your ankles or feet, headaches, and nausea when on Implanon. Severe pain or cramping in your pelvic area might also occur.
Certain medicines may make Implanon less effective and you may need to use a back-up non-hormonal birth control to prevent pregnancy.
This implant does NOT protect you against STIs such as HIV.
Sudden weakness or numbness can occur on your body.
If you're the 1% that does get pregnant when using Implanon, you have a higher risk of having an Ectopic pregnancy.

Okay, well I think you've heard enough. Implanon sounds like one seriously risky form of birth control if you ask me. Has anyone out there had luck with it? If so, please share below! Source

PMS: Oh, it's Real!!!

DearSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:00:00 PDT

When I was growing up, I remember being in a bad mood and some stupid boy saying, "Oh, you must be on the rag!" That really pissed me off -- just because I'm not happy does not necessarily mean I have or am getting my period!!

With that said, right before I do get my period, I do feel crappy and not myself. It's not just a dumb joke between guys - it's completely REAL, but why does it happen?

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) happens because your body goes through a series of hormonal changes in the 2 weeks leading up to your period. The female hormone estrogen starts to rise after menstruation and it peaks around mid-cycle (ovulation). It then rapidly drops only to slowly rise and then fall again in the time before you finally get your period. These crazy changes can trigger disruptive symptoms that affect you emotionally and physically.

PMS affects all women differently, and its symptoms can vary from month to month. For most women, symptoms include mood swings, uncontrollable crying, depression or anxiety, and the over all feeling of being "out-of-control."

Want to know what else PMS causes? Then

read more You can also experience headaches or migraines, dizziness, abdominal pains, backache, constipation, fluid retention (that's my fave right there), acne, breast tenderness, weight gain, heart palpitations, painful joints, cravings for certain foods like chocolate, or fatigue. Fun stuff huh! The severity of your symptoms may be hereditary, and some women experience symptoms that completely disrupt their ability to function. If that rings a bell, take Dear's tips below. Dear's Tips: Going on the Pill may help to regulate your hormone levels, and because you're not ovulating, your symptoms may become greatly alleviated. Monophasic birth control, like the Nuvaring or Seasonale may be a better option since they deliver an equal amount of hormones to you each day.

Hate Condoms? Try The NuvaRing

DearSugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 08:00:00 PDT

Are condoms not your favorite choice of birth control?

Use condoms - video powered by Metacafe

If not, check out the NuvaRing. Once a month, you insert a little flexible contraceptive ring inside you. It releases a low dose of hormones for 3 weeks to prevent you from getting pregnant.

After 3 weeks, you remove the ring, which brings on your period. After 7 days, you insert a new ring for another 3 weeks, and so the cycle goes.

What's cool about the NuvaRing is that it's monophasic, meaning it delivers a consistent and steady dose of hormones for 3 weeks, so you won't feel the annoying ups and downs you might experience with regular birth control pills. This is also a great option for women who love the consistency and effectiveness of the Pill, but have a hard time remembering to take it every day.

Remember that the NuvaRing does NOT protect you from STIs, so this form of birth control is best if you are in a monogomous relationship with someone who is STI-free.

I have some friends who swear by the NuvaRing and think it's the best thing since chocolate. What do you guys think? Do any of you use it?

What's the Deal With: Leptin

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 02:00:00 PDT

I have come across the word "leptin" a lot recently and instead of just skimming over it and knowing it is vaguely related to weight, I thought I'd do a bit more research.

Leptin (from the Greek word leptos meaning thin) is a hormone that helps control appetite and metabolism. In a normal weight person, when body fat increases, leptin levels rise which signal the brain that it needs to speed up metabolism and decrease appetite. According to Leo Galland, M.D., author of The Fat Resistance Diet, when folks are overweight the leptin message gets lost and the body cannot regulate its fat stores.

New research indicates that inflammation, a condition in which your immune system is kicked into overdrive, may lead to weight gain and make losing more difficult. Doctors think inflammation interferes with leptin production. So from a nutritional perspective you should eat inflammation fighting foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Simply put, leptin is part of the complicated chemical process that helps regulate weight.

PMS: Oh, it's Real !!!

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:00:00 PDT

When I was growing up, I remember being in a bad mood and some stupid boy saying, "Oh, you must be on the rag!" That really pissed me off. Just because I'm not happy does not necessarily mean I have or am getting my period!!

Although the truth is, right before my period, I really do feel crappy and not myself. It's not just a dumb joke between guys - it's completely REAL, but why does it happen?

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) happens because your body goes through a series of hormonal changes in the 2 weeks leading up to your period. The female hormone estrogen starts to rise after menstruation and peaks around mid-cycle (ovulation). It then rapidly drops only to slowly rise and then fall again in the time before you finally get your period. These crazy changes can trigger disruptive symptoms that affect you both emotionally and physically.

PMS affects women differently, and its effects can also vary from month to month. For most women, symptoms include mood swings (1 minute you're happy, 1 minute you're mad), uncontrollable crying, feeling depressed or anxious, and feeling "out-of-control."

Want to know what else PMS causes? Then

read more You can also experience headaches or migraines, dizziness, abdominal pains, backache, constipation, fluid retention (that's my fave right there), acne, breast tenderness, weight gain, heart palpitations, painful joints, cravings for certain foods like chocolate, or fatigue. Fun stuff. The severity of your symptoms may be hereditary, and some women experience symptoms that disrupt their ability to function. If you're concerned about your symptoms, keep a calendar and write down how you feel each day. This way, when you see your gynecologist, your doctor may have some ideas for treatments. Fit's Tips: Going on the Pill may help to regulate your hormone levels, and because you're not ovulating, your symptoms may become greatly alleviated. Monophasic birth control, like the Nuvaring or Seasonale may be a better option since they deliver an equal amount of hormones to you each day.

Insulin IS a Hormone

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 03:30:00 PDT

There is so much in the news about Diabetes these days, especially since Type 2 Diabetes is on the rise and the number of new cases seems to be sky rocketing. Since yesterday was American Diabetes Alert Day , I wanted to learn a bit more about the disease. I thought I should start at the beginning, go to the source as they say, and figure out what insulin is and what it does.

First off, insulin is a hormone that is produced in an area of the pancreas known as the Islets of Langerhans hence its name - insulin is derived from the Latin word insula meaning island. Hormones are chemical messengers bringing "information" from one cell to one or more other cells. Inuslin helps move glucose (aka energy) around our bodies, from the bloodstream to individual cells. Cells require glucose for movement, growth, repair, and other functions. It acts as a messenger between the bloodstream and cells, helping the cells absorb energy.

Insulin also regulates carbohydrate metabolism, the breakdown of carbs primarily into glucose. It effects fat metabolism as well.

When glucose enters our blood, the pancreas should automatically produce the right amount of insulin to move glucose into our cells. Type 1 diabetes (previously called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes) is a disorder of the body's immune system that results from the pancreas not producing any insulin. Type 2 diabetes (previously called adult onset diabetes) results when the body doesn't respond appropriately to insulin, a condition called "insulin resistance."

Not Enough Sleep and Weight Gain: What's the Connection

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:00:05 PDT

Are you getting a restful night of sleep? Do you wake up and feel energized? If the answer is "No," it could be causing other problems besides making you tired.

Scientists found that people getting 4 or less hours of sleep have a rise in the hormone ghrelin, that is related to stimulating the appetite, which in turn causes them to eat. At the same time, they have lower levels of the hormone leptin, which is what makes them feel full.

Not getting enough sleep at night actually makes people feel more hungry when they are awake, so they eat more. Sleep-deprived people tend to crave high-carb foods like bagels, cookies, pasta, and bread. They have chaotic eating patterns, which can mess up their metabolism, which will cause them to burn fewer calories.

There is a strong correlation between healthy sleep patterns and healthy eating habits. Getting enough sleep and controlling stress are subtle things that could have an impact on weight. Of course healthy eating and daily exercise play a part too.

Fit's Tips: If you are having a hard time getting a good night's sleep, you should definitely try different techniques like avoiding caffeinated drinks and alcohol, and exercising early in the day. Click here if you want to read up on the subject. If you've tried everything in the book, talk to your doctor about other options.

Migraine Relief Techniques

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:30:00 PDT

Ever had a migraine? If you answered "no" - well then you are lucky. If you answered "yes" you don't need me to tell you that migraine headaches are both unbearable and disabling. You feel severe pain on one or both sides of your head, or behind your eyes. You develop an extreme sensitivity to light and sound, and may even become nauseous from the pain. All you want to do is crawl into a dark, soundless cave, and wrap yourself in a blanket and wait until the awful nauseating pain passes.

The thing with migraines is that they can be really inconsistent, showing up with no obvious cause. Many people's migraines may be triggered by environment, sickness, or diet. Some women experience hormonal triggers, like mestruation. Stress, too much or too little sleep, alcohol, and weather changes can also cause a migraine.

Certain foods or smells can also trigger a migraine. Eating foods with MSG (monosodium glutamate) or strong smells from perfumes or chemicals like in paint can also cause a migraine.

How can you get relief? To find out,

Taking a cold or hot shower directed onto your head may relieve symptoms. Or you can just use a cold or hot wet washcloth. Some people find relief by taking a warm bath, or relaxing in a quiet dark room.

Drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee daily might help to prevent headaches to begin with.
My favorite tasty remedy? The ice cream technique. Some people find relief by causing a "brain freeze." Place spoonfuls of ice cream on the soft palate at the back of the mouth until they melt or become intolerable. This directly cools the hypothalamus, which is suspected to be involved with migraines.
Exercise daily. Regular exercise can reduce tension and stress, which may be causing your migraines in the first place.
Don't smoke - it can trigger headaches or make them worse.
You can also try over-the-counter migraine medications. If these don't work or you have recurring migraines, see your doctor and they may prescribe stronger migraine pain meds.
Biofeedback can help by teaching you how to avoid the physical stress that triggers the headache.

Tame Your Hormones Naturally

Heather Dale — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:20:25 PST

If you ever suffer from cramps, bloating, insomnia, breast tenderness, headaches, acne, or food cravings, your hormones may be in flux and need to be balanced. Hormones are crucial to our well-being since they impact our bodies at the cellular level and, if stabilized, many of the above symptoms can be alleviated.

According to The Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels, the toxins in processed foods, nonorganic produce, prescription medicine, and the environment can throw our hormones out of whack, wreaking havoc on our systems. In her book Master Your Metabolism: The 3 Diet Secrets to Naturally Balancing Your Hormones For a Hot and Healthy Body!, Jillian talks about the important role our hormones play in our endocrine system and how we can rebalance them through diet, sleep, and exercise.

Reducing stress, drinking lots of water to flush out toxins, and getting your circadian rhythms on track are all steps in the right direction toward getting your hormones balanced out, but to learn about the easiest and most effective change you can make right now, just keep reading.