“Doc, I’ve always been curvy, but now that I’m in my 60s. I’ve developed a new curve: my belly. Why now?”

The Answer

Estrogen Dominance

The Workshop Continued

I stood in front of the two dozen women.

The question had been asked by a woman standing in the middle of the group.

She was wearing a loose white linen blouse.

I motioned for her to sit down, because this was going to take a minute.

It’s not from your diet, because I can see from your skin that you eat a healthy menu.

She nodded in agreement, and the compliment made her hold back a smile.

As the corners of her lips fought the pride, I said,

“It’s estrogen dominance.”

“But…” she said.

“I know, I know. I just talked about how your estrogen levels have decreased year after year since ovulation ceased.

As I mentioned, estrogen is the feminine hormone. It even makes me feminine, especially that we all now know that I have the highest estrogen level in the room and that I cry during Super Bowl commercials.

I want you to look at estrogen as you look at women in general.

Some of the women looked at the other women in the room.

After working exclusively with women since 2009, and when someone asks me if I have learned anything about women that I can share, I always answer with this…

Women are survivors.

I paused.

Estrogen has a lot to do with women being survivors.

Estrogen is a survivor.

It is not going to go away without a fight.

Forgive me, but allow me to read from a published scientific article from the International Journal of Obesity (2008).

The Research

This is a human study that tracked women through their menopausal transition.

I am just going to read you the key finding:

“Visceral adipose tissue [Belly Fat] increased significantly beginning 3–4 years prior to menopause, coinciding with the same window in which estradiol declined.”

—PubMed Central​

In a nutshell, this scientific study verifies that it's not estradiol increasing that causes increased belly fat, but that belly fat increases at the time estrogen decreases.

When you read that you believe…

It's the decline in estradiol during the menopause transition.

They go on to say that the loss of estradiol ‘removes a protective effect, shifting fat storage from hips/thighs/breasts (subcutaneous fat) toward the abdomen (visceral fat).’

Yes, estrogen declines, but we’ve already found out that estrogen walks downward like it's walking down a long, and I mean long, staircase.

Progesterone is thrown off the top of the building.

The Real Why Estrogen Declines

Everybody look at me.

I got their attention before I said…

Your belly fat is multiplying, but it has nothing to do with age.

Age is related, but the blame needs to go somewhere else.

Estrogen doesn't simply decline because you had another birthday.

Estrogen declines because your ovaries gradually run out of follicles.

Those follicles are tiny hormone factories that produce most of your estradiol.

As they disappear, ovulation becomes less frequent, and hormone production becomes erratic. That’s perimenopause.

Eventually, ovulation ceases, and that’s menopause.

The result isn't just the end of your menstrual cycle; it's the beginning of the hormonal changes that affect your metabolism, sleep, brain, bones, skin, muscles, and where your body stores fat.

It’s not the cause of why you no longer feel like yourself.

It is just one piece of the puzzle.

Because remember, progesterone goes splat on the sidewalk.

The What

Let me close the loop I started.

Estrogen, like you, is a survivor.

As estrogen's existence is threatened, it moves fat storage to our belly.

As your belly fat increases, so does an enzyme called aromatase.

Aromatase converts your other two ovarian hormones, progesterone and testosterone, into estradiol.

Your belly fat becomes an estrogen-producing gland.

Say what?

Belly fat makes estrogen.

Estrogen makes belly fat

It uses your progesterone and testosterone to make the estrogen.

The more belly fat, the more estrogen that is made

And the more estrogen that is made, the more estrogen becomes dominant over progesterone and testosterone.

Coaches Corner

Your ovaries run out of follicles.
They are ovarian hormone factories.
Your brain sees you lack estrogen
And, for your heart and bones' sake,
Tries to make more follicles.
Your brain releases Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH).
This is the hormone your doctor will measure to announce,
That you are in menopause.

Thoughts

Your belly fat isn’t caused by your diet or lack of willpower.

It’s caused because you ran out of follicles and estrogen had to find another way to survive.

The reason you don’t feel like yourself any longer is yes, your body has changed shape, but most importantly…

Your hormones have drastically changed.

They have lost their balance.

What’s Next

So what is the solution?

There is not just one thing you can do.

It’s a puzzle.

All the pieces and where they should go will be explored within this series of articles.

So make sure you are subscribed.

​Subscribe now​

—Doc Mac

PS Vicky here. I like to always get the last word. No, this is the only space Doc gave me within this article. But I do have something for you. A free conversation with not only Doc, but me too. It’s only 15 minutes, so I know everyone can find 15 minutes. During those 15 minutes, we will listen to what your problem is, then Doc and I will sit and talk about where you should start. Then we will put together a customized plan for you, schedule a longer talk, and share with you what we came up with. It’s all free. Schedule by clicking on this link.

​A CONVERSATION WITH DOC AND VICKY​

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace a relationship with your physician. Nothing here should be used to diagnose or treat any condition. Always talk to your doctor before changing your hormone therapy, medications, or supplements. Individual results vary. The HOPE Protocol is a coaching program, not a medical treatment.