Suddenly, you admit, even though you have not changed your diet or anything else. Or you eat less, do more sport – and still, virtually nothing moves on the scale. Well. It's most likely the hormones.

Why does one increase during the period?

A particularly good example that illustrates the relationship between your hormonal balance and your weight is your cycle. During ovulation, your body crazily produces the progesterone hormone (supports the fertilized egg during implantation in the uterus) and prepares for pregnancy. Your body precautionarily stores water. You are getting a little heavier. On days 15-17 of your cycle, cravings overpower you. Why? Your poor, deceived body is preparing for a possible pregnancy, the estrogens just shoot through your body. You store calories instead of burning them. Only when your body realizes that the egg is not fertilized (on days 18-21) does it begin to burn the energy in the normal way. Day 22 to 28: PMS. Hooray. Estrogen levels are dropping, now the progesterone hormone is flooding your body. Bloating, water retention and slowed metabolism can increase weight during the period of two to four kilos. Jackpot, huh? But it's not just your cycle that determines whether you'll win or you'll lose kilos again. There are also other hormones, otherwise it would be too easy.

These hormones affect your weight

1. Insulin:

The hormone insulin regulates our blood sugar. It primarily transports sugar to the cells, where it is used to generate energy. But it also controls the burning of fat and determines decisively whether we are increasing or decreasing. In order for your insulin production to stay within a normal range, you should reduce your sugar intake. Sweet snacks, for example, cause the insulin level to surge upwards, you are immediately more energetic. However, the burning is faster too – you get tired and your body again craves sugar.

2. Leptin:

Leptin is a proteohormone that sends out the chemical message to stop eating and gain energy from stores – such as fat deposits. This works wonderfully slim, but in overweight the effect does not work. They are, as physicians have found, really immune to leptin. As a result, they have unbridled appetite. In combination with exercise, however, the hormone regains its ability to fight body fat!

3. Ghrelin:

Ghrelin is popularly called "hunger hormone". It is a hormone that is released from the stomach and can increase hunger, slow down the metabolism and limit the body's fat burning ability. When the ghrelin level in your body goes down, you lose your cravings as well. Proteins and fiber help to regulate the ghrelin budget.

4. Cortisol:

Cortisol is known as the "stress hormone". During stress, among other things, cortisol is formed and released in the adrenal cortex. It sets the body on alert and causes the fat cells to quickly provide energy for the muscles. At the same time, the cortisol ensures that the body constantly replenishes its fat deposits. However, cortisol does not only make us feel rushed at work, eat more and gain weight – those who have too much of it in the body are haunted by their effects, even during periods of rest. Shut down will be impossible. A new study brings now hope for people with (too) high cortisol levels: The daily intake of vitamin D should remedy!

5. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1):

Once you ingest nutrients, the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is thrown up by bile. It helps your body keep blood sugar levels stable and feel full as soon as you have eaten enough. However, if your body does not produce enough of this hormone, then you are not fed up so fast and eat too much. High-protein foods such as fish, yoghurt and dairy products are beneficial for the production of GLP-1.

6. Neuropeptides Y:

The brain messenger NPY (Neuropeptide Y) is the strongest appetizer. Meanwhile, scientists have found that the hormone is not only produced in the brain, but also in the fatty tissue of the abdomen. The more dangerous belly fat you use, the more hormonal appetizers you produce. Attention: During fasting your neuropeptide output increases extremely!