SA Weightloss Hypnosis

Are you someone who struggles with sleep AND weight gain?

This is a big issue and becoming more-so in our modern day hectic life, trying to juggle family, career, and health, so I wanted to dive into the importance of getting good quality sleep to help women overcome menopausal weight gain and understand how lack of sleep plays a huge part.

When we struggle with sleep, for many it's inevitable that we’ll struggle with weight. 

First off, I want to mention that my program, The Menopause MindBodyWeight Reset, is all about helping women to create healthy lifestyle habits that will support them in feeling energised, productive, and in control of menopausal symptoms, which is why I wanted to go into the importance of sleep!

So menopausal weight gain is not just about the decline in estrogen; it's also about our aging process and inflammaging which causes changes to our gut health. You see, our sleep hormones rely on the absorption of certain nutrients to function properly and help us sleep.

These nutrients are absorbed by our gut, which plays a major role in our health, and is known as the “seat of our health” in many eastern cultures. 

Have you heard about the Gut-Brain Axis? This is basically all about the communication between your gut and your brain.

Put very simply, when you have a healthy gut, you have a happy, healthy functioning brain, and when you have a happy, healthy functioning brain, you have a healthy gut. Both the gut and brain are interconnected.

As an Eating Psychology Coach and Neuro Linguistics Practitioner, I put a lot of focus on how thoughts and feelings have a direct impact on gut health, which has a direct impact on weight gain…and sleep is very much affected by gut health. 

So here’s a bit of science for you….

Did you know that your intestines run on their own 24-hour rhythm, which matches our own sleep cycle? But if your gut health is out of balance, it can also affect your sleep. Why? Because the bacteria in the gut plays a role in producing a brain hormone called serotonin, which helps make another hormone called melatonin that helps us sleep.

In fact, it's estimated that a whopping 90% of our serotonin is produced by intestinal bacteria. So, if your gut is off-kilter, it can wreak havoc on your sleep quality and duration. It can even contribute to a low mood.  

I can certainly relate to gut health challenges, and it's only been in recent times that I've been able to connect it with my own post-menopausal symptoms.

In fact, it was the first time in my life that I started feeling bloated and developed what seemed like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms. And many of my coaching clients tell me of the same type of symptoms. 

So here's the thing.....turning around our gut health is an essential part of managing our menopause symptoms, which is why I'm working with an amazing Gut Health Specialist, Brooke Schiller, from Balanced by Brooke. 

In my NEW and soon to be released The Menopause MindBodyWeight Reset Program, we will be taking a deep dive not only into your mind's health, but also your gut health, so we can get to the root cause of menopausal weight gain, which includes improving sleep health.

When it comes to weight gain during menopause, sleep disturbance and the circadian rhythm play a vital role.

Circadian rhythm is the 24-hour internal clock in our brain that regulates cycles of wakefulness and sleepiness by responding to light changes in our environment. Lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain in midlife women by creating an added layer of stress to our body.

This added internal & biological stress from lack of sleep can contribute to;

• Unhelpful food cravings,
• Irritability & mood swings
• Increased cortisol & insulin
• Estrogen dominance
• Emotional eating
• Gut inflammation
• Low energy

So one of the simple & natural strategies for better sleep is to get enough vitamin D. This mighty vitamin affects melatonin production and liver health, which are both crucial for quality sleep. Try going for a walk outside each morning and aim for at least 15 to 30 minutes of daylight, preferably without sunglasses. This will help activate melatonin production and set you up for a better night's sleep.

Losing weight is not as simple as calories, in v calories out, and it’s essential to address all the pieces of the weight-loss puzzle, particularly if you are experiencing one of the 3 stages of Menopause - Peri-Menopause, Menopause or Post-Menopause, and that’s why The Menopause MindBodyWeight Reset program can help by guiding you through simple, impactful and effective ways that will support you in finding solutions tailored to your specific lifestyle needs.

Remember that taking care of your sleep is not just about feeling well-rested; it's a vital part of managing your menopausal symptoms and maintaining a healthy weight. By prioritizing quality sleep, making healthy and simple lifestyle adjustments, and reaching out for support, you CAN transition through this next phase of life that brings results.

If you have any further questions or need more guidance, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to help you every step of the way.