Losing Stubborn Fat and pounds with BHRT: How the Evolve Menopause Method Helps Women Regain Control
By Dr. Beth Meneley, Founder of Evolved Menopause
Losing weight, especially stubborn fat, can become increasingly challenging as we age. Hormonal changes during perimenopause, menopause, and beyond often cause our metabolism to slow, leading to weight gain—particularly around the belly. If you’re feeling frustrated and struggling to shed the extra weight, you’re not alone. At Evolved Menopause, our Evolve Menopause Method uses Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), functional medicine, and a personalized approach to help women balance hormones, improve metabolic health, and regain control over their bodies.
The Science Behind Weight Gain in Midlife
As we age, changes in our hormones—including declining levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormones—play a major role in weight gain. Estrogen helps regulate glucose and fat metabolism, and a decline in estrogen during menopause can lead to increased belly fat. Similarly, declining testosterone can contribute to a decrease in muscle mass, which negatively impacts metabolism and makes it harder to burn fat.
Another key player in weight gain and metabolic health is the thyroid gland, which produces hormones that control metabolism. When thyroid function declines, it leads to hypothyroidism, which can slow down metabolism, contribute to weight gain, and make losing fat a significant challenge. Thyroid imbalances are often overlooked, but they are crucial to address when aiming for effective weight loss and metabolic health.
Unfortunately, 88% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy, with many experiencing issues related to poor blood sugar regulation, inflammation, and thyroid imbalances. This often leads to insulin resistance, where the body struggles to regulate blood sugar effectively, making weight loss difficult.
At Evolved Menopause, we focus on balancing blood sugar, supporting thyroid health, and reducing inflammation as core strategies for promoting weight loss. By restoring hormonal balance with BHRT and integrating functional medicine practices, we help improve metabolic health, making it easier to lose stubborn fat and regain vitality.
How BHRT Supports Weight Loss
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a powerful tool for women dealing with weight gain and stubborn fat during menopause and beyond. By restoring hormone levels to a balanced state, BHRT helps regulate metabolism and improves the body's ability to process fat effectively. Here’s how BHRT helps with weight loss:
Balancing Blood Sugar
Estrogen plays a key role in regulating blood sugar and insulin sensitivity. With declining estrogen levels, the body becomes more prone to insulin resistance, making it harder to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Elevated blood sugar and insulin resistance can lead to increased fat storage, particularly in the abdominal area. By restoring estrogen levels through BHRT, we help the body become more insulin-sensitive, making it easier to balance blood sugar and support weight loss.Reducing Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a significant contributor to weight gain and metabolic issues. It also impacts hormone receptor sites, making it difficult for hormones to bind properly and function effectively. When receptor sites are compromised, hormones like insulin, estrogen, and cortisol can't communicate as they should, leading to further weight gain and difficulty losing fat. BHRT helps reduce inflammation by restoring balance to the body's hormone levels, while also supporting cellular health and improving energy. By lowering inflammation, we improve hormone receptor function, enhancing your ability to lose weight.Supporting Lean Muscle Mass
As testosterone levels decline, women often experience a loss of lean muscle mass, which is vital for a healthy metabolism. Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat, even at rest, so maintaining or increasing muscle mass is essential for effective fat burning. BHRT helps restore testosterone levels, supporting the growth and maintenance of lean muscle. This contributes to a more efficient metabolism and makes it easier to lose fat while increasing energy and strength.
The Role of Thyroid Health in Weight Loss
The thyroid is the body’s metabolic powerhouse, regulating energy production, body temperature, and fat metabolism. Thyroid imbalances are often overlooked as a cause of stubborn weight gain, but they are crucial to address. Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, can lead to weight gain, fatigue, and reduced motivation to exercise—all of which hinder weight loss.
At Evolved Menopause, we draw on the work of Dr. Datis Kharrazian, a leading expert in thyroid health and functional medicine. Dr. Kharrazian’s approach emphasizes understanding the root causes of thyroid dysfunction and supporting thyroid health with a holistic perspective. He highlights the importance of addressing autoimmune thyroid conditionslike Hashimoto's thyroiditis, optimizing nutrient intake, reducing inflammation, and restoring hormone conversion pathways.
In our practice, we use a comprehensive thyroid panel to evaluate thyroid function, which includes the following key biomarkers:
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone):
Functional Range: 0.5 - 2.5 mIU/L
Standard Range: 0.5 - 4.5 mIU/L
A higher TSH may indicate hypothyroidism, but even within the “normal” standard range, symptoms can occur if TSH is above 2.5.
Free T4 (Thyroxine):
Functional Range: 1.0 - 1.5 ng/dL
Standard Range: 0.8 - 1.8 ng/dL
Free T4 is the inactive form of thyroid hormone, and optimal levels are needed to ensure that enough hormone is available for conversion to the active form.
Free T3 (Triiodothyronine):
Functional Range: 3.2 - 4.2 pg/mL
Standard Range: 2.3 - 4.2 pg/mL
Free T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone. It directly impacts metabolism, energy, and fat-burning capacity. Optimizing Free T3 levels is crucial for supporting a healthy metabolism.
Reverse T3 (rT3):
Functional Range: < 15 ng/dL
Reverse T3 competes with Free T3, and elevated levels can indicate poor conversion of T4 to T3, leading to a sluggish metabolism.
Thyroid Antibodies:
TPO (Thyroid Peroxidase) Antibodies and Thyroglobulin Antibodies should be tested to determine if an autoimmune condition, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, is contributing to thyroid dysfunction. Elevated antibodies indicate autoimmune activity that needs to be addressed to restore thyroid health.
Dr. Kharrazian emphasizes the importance of lifestyle interventions, dietary modifications, and supplementation to support thyroid hormone conversion, enhance detoxification, and improve overall thyroid function. By looking at all these markers, we can determine whether underlying thyroid issues are affecting metabolism. Optimizing thyroid health through targeted treatment, supplementation, and lifestyle changes can make a significant difference in weight loss efforts.
Balancing Blood Sugar for Weight Loss
One of the key principles of the Evolve Menopause Method is blood sugar regulation. Maintaining stable blood sugar levels helps reduce cravings, maintain energy throughout the day, and prevent fat storage. Here are some of the strategies we use to support balanced blood sugar:
Balanced Diet: We emphasize a diet rich in fiber, healthy fats, and protein, while limiting processed carbohydrates and sugars that cause blood sugar spikes.
Meal Timing: Eating balanced meals at regular intervals helps maintain consistent energy levels and prevents insulin spikes that lead to fat storage.
Exercise: Physical activity, especially resistance training and HIIT, helps improve insulin sensitivity, making it easier for the body to use glucose effectively.
Other Supportive Therapies for Weight Loss
We understand that everyone’s journey is different, and some women may need additional support beyond BHRT and lifestyle changes to achieve their weight loss goals. Here are some of the additional therapies we may incorporate to support weight loss:
GLP-1 Agonists
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists are medications that help regulate blood sugar, increase insulin sensitivity, and reduce appetite. They have shown promise in supporting weight loss, particularly for those who are insulin-resistant or have struggled with weight gain for an extended period. When used alongside BHRT, GLP-1 agonists can be a powerful tool to help reset metabolism and make weight loss more achievable.Targeted Supplements for Cellular Health
Improving cellular health is crucial for effective weight loss. We use targeted supplements to enhance mitochondrial function (the energy powerhouses of our cells) and improve detoxification pathways. Supplements such as berberine, chromium, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants can help improve insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, and support overall metabolic health.Detoxification Support
Detoxification is an important component of the Evolve Menopause Method. Hormones and toxins are processed in the liver, and if detoxification pathways are sluggish, it can be challenging to balance hormones and lose weight. We use detox protocols to support the liver and improve hormone metabolism, helping to facilitate more efficient fat burning.
A Personalized Approach to Weight Loss
The Evolve Menopause Method is about empowering you to take control of your health and find an approach to weight loss that works for your body. We combine BHRT, functional medicine principles, and personalized strategies to help you lose weight, balance your hormones, and improve your overall vitality.
Weight loss isn’t just about calories in versus calories out—it's about hormonal health, metabolic balance, cellular function, and thyroid health. By addressing the root causes of weight gain, such as hormonal imbalances, inflammation, thyroid dysfunction, and poor blood sugar regulation, we help you regain control of your body and create lasting change.
If you’re ready to shed stubborn fat, regain energy, and feel more like yourself again, we’re here to guide you. Let’s work together to create a personalized plan that helps you lose weight, balance your hormones, and thrive at every stage of life.
Schedule a consultation today and start your journey toward a healthier, more vibrant you.
