“Stop Stress From Wrecking Your Hormones: 5 Game-Changing Tips”

Hey friends! 🙋‍♀️ Let’s get real for a second—stress is basically the uninvited guest that crashes our lives, wrecks our mood, and leaves us feeling like a hot hormonal mess, right? I know because I’ve been there. Stress not only messes with your mind, but it can also send your hormones into complete chaos, and guess what? That just makes everything worse. But there’s hope. I’m here to tell you that you can regain control, and I’m living proof of that. So, grab a cup of tea (or a cortisol-balancing mocktail) and let’s dive in!

The Hormone-Stress Tug-of-War 🧘‍♀️ vs. 😤

I wish I could say I’ve always had my stress under control, but let me paint you a picture. A few years ago, I was juggling everything—running a 1.4 billion dollar performing market, raising my kids, trying to stay healthy, and still find time to enjoy life. Spoiler alert: I was burning out. My body was sending me all the red flags—constant fatigue, brain fog, random weight gain (ugh, the worst). I just didn’t feel like me. The culprit? Stress and out-of-whack hormones playing tug-of-war with my health.

Here’s the deal: when you’re stressed, your body pumps out cortisol like it’s on a mission to destroy your zen. And if cortisol stays high for too long, it starts messing with your other hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and thyroid. That’s why stress makes everything from mood swings to bloating even worse.

Sound familiar? 🙋‍♀️ Yeah, I thought so.

How I Took Back Control (and How You Can Too!)

When I finally accepted that stress was running the show, I knew something had to change. So, I did what I always do when I need answers—I went full “research mode" and got into action. Here are a few strategies that helped me not only reduce my stress but balance my hormones again. Let’s break them down!

1. I Prioritized Movement (Even Though I Never Liked the Gym!) 🏋️‍♀️

I’ve always known movement was important, but let’s be real—I was never a fan of “the gym.” But I also knew myself well enough to realize that if I didn’t hire a trainer and have someone keeping me accountable, I’d never stick with it. So, I started with just one 30-minute training session a week. From there, I added a 45-minute HIIT class, and eventually, I worked my way up to a 60-minute yoga class. These days, I do 2-3 strength training workouts a week, and I squeeze in yoga when I can.

It’s wild how consistent workouts really do help balance your stress—and here’s the cool part: it’s not just physical! Exercise has this magical way of calming your brain by lowering cortisol and boosting those feel-good endorphins. It’s like giving your mind a stress detox every time you move your body. 💆‍♀️ It doesn’t have to be perfect or intense, just get moving, and your brain will thank you!

2. Food as Fuel, Not Comfort 🥗🍫

I’m not going to lie; during stressful times, I used to dive headfirst into comfort food (hello, carbs!). But the more I learned about how food impacts hormones, the more I started to rethink my choices. Instead of sugar crashes and carb overload, I shifted to more of a high-protein, low-carb diet. That means over 100 grams of protein a day and under 100 grams of carbs. I’ve cut out most sugars where I can help it, and I’ve drastically limited alcohol. For treats, I love berries, Greek yogurt, and a crisp apple Electro. Let me tell you, my hormones loved the switch! It wasn’t about restriction—it was about giving my body what it actually needed to thrive.

3. Supplements and HRT for the Win 💊

Once I got my blood work done (yes, it’s a must!), I realized my hormones were all over the place. So, I got serious about my supplements and started hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Listen, if you’ve been on the fence about this, I’m here to say it can be a game-changer. I felt like a new woman. My energy returned, my mood stabilized, and I felt more in control of my life again.

4. Mindset Shifts 🧠✨

This one’s HUGE. I started focusing on gratitude and made it a habit to write down five things I’m grateful for every day. It might sound simple, but this small daily practice helped shift my mindset in a big way. Whether it’s gratitude, meditation, or just shutting off my phone for an hour, these little changes have helped lower my stress levels big time. You can’t always control the stress that comes your way, but you can control how you react to it. Game changer!

5. Sleep: Non-Negotiable 😴

Sleep and hormones go together like peanut butter and jelly. When I wasn’t sleeping, my stress got worse, and my hormones followed suit. So, I made sleep a non-negotiable priority. 7-8 hours! That meant turning off Netflix earlier (goodbye, late-night binge-watching - this is a daily struggle! ), creating a calming bedtime routine, and saying yes to that extra pillow. Trust me, good sleep = happy hormones.

Ready to Take Back Control?

So here’s the big takeaway: You can regain control of your hormones, and it starts with managing your stress. It’s not about being perfect (who is?), but about finding the little things that bring you back to balance. Whether it’s lifting weights, eating smarter, prioritizing sleep, or just taking a deep breath, you have the power to shift your health.

If I can do it (while managing the chaos of running a business and being a mom), you can too. Remember, it’s not about perfection—it’s about progress. Start small, and keep going.

And hey, if you need help balancing those hormones or want more tips on staying stress-free, you know where to find me. Let’s B.WELL together! 💪✨

Sarah B