Hormonal imbalance can certainly rob you of your self-confidence. That’s because it usually causes weight gain, hunger pangs and loss of muscle mass. If your hormones are out of whack, exercises can help in normalizing them.
There are plenty of ways to balance your hormones naturally. Some of the most effective ones include ditching caffeine, eliminating saturated fats in the diet, consuming nutrient-dense food, getting sufficient amounts of sleep nightly and turning your back on toxins found in cosmetic products, household cleaning solutions, etc.
Exercising on a regular basis is also something that is scientifically proven to restore the normal balance of hormones in your body. Before you start putting on that pair of running shoes or heading to the nearest gym to get a subscription, continue reading. Below are some quick tips on exercising to balance your hormones.
- Keep your exercise sessions short. Try to stay within 30 to 40 minutes only because overdoing it can actually wreak havoc to your hormones. The goal is to restore the proper balance of your body’s natural chemicals and not leave them in a state of pandemonium.
- Separating your weight training and cardiovascular exercises is highly recommended. Otherwise, you might end up devoting too much time to working out, something which can leave your hormones out of whack due to the production of the stress hormone cortisol.
- Make sure that you give everything you got each time. Because you have to limit your workout times to really benefit from exercising, it’s a good idea to keep your sessions intense and like there’s no tomorrow. Doing this is beneficial for your hormones. To zap those excess pounds, it’s the way to go.
- Opt for circuit training. One of the most effective exercise routines on the planet is circuit training, something which packs all sorts of cardiovascular exercises and weight training in a short period of time. Just remember to keep rest periods in between circuits very short for best results.
- Work out large muscle group all at once instead of one at a time. Doing this allows your body to produce more hormones and exercise several muscles with the least amount of time. However, do take note that you should work out a particular group of muscles only once or twice a week to give your muscles enough time to recuperate.
- Don’t be afraid to lift heavy weights. Unless you are planning on overdosing on muscle building supplements, you won’t end up looking like a bodybuilder. To maximize the benefits of weight training on your hormones, lift heavier weights and perform few repetitions rather than lift lighter weights and do lots of repetitions.
- In terms of cardiovascular exercises, use intervals. Keeping your body challenged all the time is important in order for it to continuously benefit from exercising. It is a great idea to perform short burst of intense cardio moves, doing light to moderate activities in between them.
- Opt for cardiovascular exercises that you find fun and interesting. This will make it easier for you to stick to your regular workout plan. Cardiovascular need not be repetitive and boring. It can be anything enjoyable such as hip-hop dancing, step aerobics, badminton, volleyball or water polo.
- Perform yoga too. All those challenging yoga moves and poses help lengthen the muscles, making you look slender. The best thing about yoga is it helps balance your hormones by reducing stress as well as the impact it has on both your mind and body.
- Eat the right stuff between and after working out. 45 minutes prior to brisk walking, jogging, bicycling, swimming, playing badminton or hitting the gym, eat foods that are rich in carbohydrates and protein. The same is true 45 minutes after exercising. During your exercise, ditch sports drinks and consume water only.
