HORMONES.
Yep – we are going there guys. I feel like this is SUCH a taboo topic and I really wanted to explore it a little bit more since
- My hormones are ALL over the place being pregnant. Early pregnancy and now third trimester – you can give me the side eye and I will burst into tears. It is INSANE.
- The imbalance of hormones can be attributed to so many health issues such as weight gain, fatigue, etc.
When I heard Krista William’s story of combating the balance of her hormones on her podcast, Almost 30, I knew I had to have her on the blog to share her journey. Grab a kombucha and let’s dive in!
BYOK: Hi Krista! Thank you SO SO MUCH for sharing your journey with us. Before we chat about how you were able to tackle your hormonal imbalance, can you share with us some of the early symptoms of your hormonal imbalance?
Krista: I’ll never forget, one day a few months after we had moved to LA, and I was working from home at this time, and I was so tired that day that I got a large latte from Whole Foods. Shortly after, I felt so drunkenly tired, and sick that I literally had to skip work and sleep all day. I knew that it wasn’t normal for me to feel tired from caffeine. I also would work out a billion times a day, but my stomach continued to be super bloated, I felt like I was wearing a puffy fat suit all the time. I wasn’t getting my period, and my sex drive was like zero, (to get personal, ha).
The major thing was the exhaustion when I normally have tons of energy. I went from my smallest weight in NYC to my heaviest ever in the course of a few months (like 4-5). I have never been that heavy before, and I knew it wasn’t all what I was eating and doing because I was working out harder than ever, and eating pretty clean. It was fate that I met my friend Ryan Burch, who knew a lot about hormones, she mentioned something about my hormones being off and I trusted her enough, and was desperate enough to try it out.
Differentiating from overall tiredness, this feeling was literally like I was so tired I felt like I couldn’t stay awake if I tried. It would happen when I would have fake sugars, or any sort of caffeine or stimulant. This was the adrenal fatigue. My body wasn’t metabolizing the fake sugar, and the stimulants were no longer working on my adrenals. There is a sliding scale of adrenal fatigue, mine was pretty extreme where I can no longer have any caffeine or fake sugars, and I need to be super careful about my workouts making sure they aren’t too intense.
BYOK: I remember you talking about a spit kit that was able to determine your hormones were out of sorts. Can you elaborate on that?
Krista: Yes! So Your Hormone Balance, Candace Burch sent me the test – she is the BEST EVER. She’s so thoughtful and literally just knew exactly what I was going through and all the right things to say and help me to do to get better. You can order one from her, on her website here: www.yourhormonebalance.com. Tell her I sent ya!
I also did a blood test, which you can get or not get! The spit is really accurate! You can get tested at the gyno but they are sometimes really hesitant to do it, weirdly. Just do it with someone you trust.
BYOK: I love how there is an option to take matters into your own hands per se when it comes to testing if you find that your doctor won’t listen to your concerns. It is so helpful to be able to order a test online! Now onto finding the hormonal balance.
Krista: First – get tested. Don’t try to self-medicate, I did that for a bit and honestly it messed up my hormones more.
The recommendations were to increase my fat intake, decrease my intense workouts (like Barry’s and SoulCycle), sleep more, no more caffeine, less sugar and to take supplements like Relora, Rhiodiola, Ashgawanda, and Vitamin D. Increasing fat helped my body to create more good hormones, and decreasing the intense workout helped to regulate my cortisol and increase my testosterone which was a good thing and helps you build lean muscle! Less sugar helps with energy levels to keep them constant and really with adrenal fatigue.
Also because I am estrogen dominant, I rubbed on progesterone cream every night which really helped with getting my period back. This I got on Amazon prime for cheap! Candace is great because she is only natural, so only shared natural remedy’s which is major.
BYOK: I love that you wanted to follow a holistic approach. Why was healing yourself naturally important to you?
Krista: I honestly don’t trust our medical system, or doctors, or anything. Truly. It’s a weird thing but I know that I could do it on my own, and I don’t need a pill to help. Plus, the habits I instilled in myself have changed my life in so many ways not only hormonally, but just made me feel really happy and free, too. Always try natural first. I mean of course there are times when you cannot go without medical help but for me I had to honestly try first on my own.
BYOK: How long did it take to for you to find that hormonal balance?
Krista: It took about 8-12 months honestly. I know that sounds like so long, and it seems painful to think of being uncomfortable for that long, but it did take a while. I had to really apply all the new lifestyle changes, and just CHILL OUT and let my body recalibrate. If you want something that’s a quick fix, I don’t know if there even is one with something like this. But, my situation was pretty dire, so coming back to being in balance took a while but it was worth it.
BYOK: How has your life changed? What shifts have you made to maintain this lifestyle?
Krista: It’s crazy I feel so good right now with my body I feel like I am back ‘in’ it if that makes sense. I just don’t feel so bloated, so puffy, so EXHAUSTED, so emotional….I now just consider my hormones always. So, if I am trolling IG late night, I remember that sleep is helpful for not only my energy, but it’s also key for my hormones too. I now fit normally into clothes, I’ve lost that weight, and my energy is super consistent through the day. The shifts I have made in my life have not only helped me physically but mentally too. I am so much clearer, and I feel more like myself than ever before.
BYOK: Personally, I feel like everything happens for a reason and you were meant to share your story. What do you want women to take from your journey?
Krista: Honestly you saying that makes my eyes water. Thank you. It was fucking hard and I didn’t feel like myself for a year or so when I was just so exhausted, emotional, tired, puffy…all of the things. I was doing all I could but NOTHING was making me feel better. It was the missing link. I just really want women to take their hormone health into their own hands and to think of the body more holistically rather than just being skinny or whatever. Your hormones relate to your mood, your emotions, your body…it’s so much and you have to take care of them through mind-body wellness techniques not just one thing. When you don’t sleep, or are super stressed all the time, or eat lots of sugar, it affects you in MANY ways not just physically.
BYOK: Thank you SO MUCH for being so vulnerable and sharing your journey.!!!!!!!!!!! Okay ready for it, what is your favorite flavor of kombucha, because duh, no BYOK interview is complete without it 🙂
Krista: Love me Health Ade Ginger Lemon. I used to be a Synergy girl but I think they doubled the sugar in it recently!
————————————————————-
To connect with Krista Williams you can find her:
