Testosterone– Why women need it too!

Some Surprising facts about testosterone and why it’s important for women too.

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Testosterone – Why women need it too! Mike Mahoney Photography

 

There are a lot of mixed feelings out there about testosterone, many women hear the word and instantly think this hormone is something that only matters for men. Yes testosterone is a male hormone but women also produce it, and it plays an important role in puberty, sexual function and body system regulation. In women, the hormone is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands and in fatty tissues. As women age, our bodies produce less of the hormone, which can lead to physical and behavioral changes. In fact, at menopause, women produce up to 50 percent less testosterone than they did at their peak production during their teens and early 20s.

After my figure competition in March 2013, I felt tired, worn down and very unmotivated to get back in the gym. I would literally be in the gym working out yawning feeling like I could fall asleep. I knew my hormones were out of whack because my skin was breaking out and my menstrual cycle was very irregular and frequent. My doctor suggested taking birth control pills to help “regulate” my cycles. Although I am not against birth control pills my body doesn’t agree with them. I always gain a lot of weight and seem to get every side effect listed on the package. So I decided to research different products that may help regulate my hormones without actually getting on hormone replacements or use of birth control. I found one called Halotropin made by ProSupps.

This product helps your body produce more testosterone while simultaneously unbinding and utilizing your existing free flowing testosterone, and it keeps estrogen in check at the same time. The end result is an explosion in libido, strength, energy, and muscle mass. Unleash your full potential in the gym (and in the bedroom)!

At first I was a little bit skeptical about the results it would give me, but I also knew things couldn’t get worse. I approached ProSupps athlete Diana Diaz about Halotropin, and asked her if it was right for women. This is what she said about it:

“Yes, women most definitely can use and benefit from a testosterone boosting product like Halotropin. There are lots of misleading and confusing information regarding testosterone boosters for women and it’s common for these products to be associated with men only. Truth is both men and women have estrogen and testosterone. We just have different levels of them. Our hormones change with age, levels of physical activities, stress, pregnancy, nutrition/diets, etc. It seems like everything can effect a change in our hormones!

The benefits for us, women, using a testosterone booster may and will be an increase in stamina, strength, energy, vitality, sex drive and libido. These products also decreases water retention/bloating and help balance our moods. Obviously every woman is built different and may experience different results but for the most part, my female clients that I have added testosterone boosters into their nutritional routine have definitely seen positive results. Results vary but you should see a difference in strength, muscle tightness, energy and less water retention/bloating within 10-12 days.”

After contacting Diana I decided to give this testosterone booster a try and saw amazing results in my first month! Here are the changes I saw:

1. Sleep, I was actually getting into a deep sleep and dreaming. As a sleep tech I learned how much of an impact getting enough or no sleep can have on your body. In a nutshell sleep is like a reset button for your body!

2. My skin cleared up, no more breakouts or cystic acne.

3. My menstrual cycle went from 8 days to 3 days and became regular not sporadic. Cramps and bloating were also greatly reduced.

4. I’d wake up energized and ready to take on the day instead of wanting to sleep all day.

5. Because my body has been able to recover due to better sleep, I am seeing a higher level of strength. Definite gains in the gym.

6. Bruising, I do not bruise as easily anymore.

Dietary zinc is a strong ingredient in testosterone boosting products like Halotropin. This ingredient is known as the most important mineral for naturally boosting your testosterone levels. You can also find zinc in red meats, chicken, salmon, peanuts, dried pumpkin seeds, cocoa, and sesame butter. Garlic also helps boost testosterone levels because it contains allicin, which promotes testosterone production.

*Testosterone boosters like Halotropin may not be for everyone, and individual results may vary. It took me a few weeks to the notice the full effects of it. Always consult your doctor or physician before you try anything new.

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Snacking Tips

I have had several people ask me about “snacking” and how to make healthier choices. Here are a few tips I use for myself.

snacking

1. Have your snacks planned or prepared in advance. Doing so will keep you from saying “what should I eat?”. You will have it there, it’s convenient and READY!

2. Set snack times, in other words plan a the time of day you will snack. Even the healthiest snacks can set you back if you are eating them all day long.

3. Be sure to drink lots of water throughout the day. Hunger can be mistaken for thirst. Flavor your water if you like with lemon, citrus, or a sugar free drink mix. Sometimes a big glass of water will cure hunger pangs.

4. Always ALWAYS check lables! “Low Fat” or “Fat Free” doesn’t mean the product isn’t fatening. Always look at the calories, carbs, sugar, fat, and protein content.

5. Evaluate your diet, don’t starve yourself all day just to eat a candybar and bag of chips at 4:00pm. You need food, your body needs food, your brain needs food. FEED IT!

Here are a few of my favorite snacks…
1. Rice Cakes
2. Gerber Graduate “Puffs” ~ Baby food yes, but for about 80 puffs there are 25 calories, 0g fat, 6g carbs, 1g sugar! Sweet Potato are my favorite!!
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3. Jerkey ~ Jerkey gives you something to “chew” on and always makes me thirsty so I drink more. Just avoid jerkey with tons of sodium and sugar (again check the lable)
4.Quest Bars
5. Sugar Snap Peas
6. Celery ~ I eat mine with cinnamon sprinkled on it.
7. Protein Powder ~ When in doubt make a shake, 1 scoop of protein and water will fill your belly.
8. Bell Peppers ~ Get all different colors and cut them up, seeing the bright colors can make you feel better about what you’re eating.