By: Your JNH Lifestylist

Women go through different situations during their life that affects their hormonal balance. The two most relevant are pregnancy and menopause. During pregnancy, your hormones stimulate your body to store fat, changing your overall body composition which can make it hard to lose weight after the pregnancy. On the other hand, during menopause, your hormones change drastically. Aside from raising your cardiovascular risk, this hormonal imbalance makes your body store fat in your belly. This fat is particularly difficult to tackle since it is so localized [2].

Yes, even evolution has some responsibility in why women have such a hard time losing weight. It is believed that a women's body is designed to store energy to preserve their fertility, which is present even in the body's biochemistry. A 2009 study from the American Journal of Physiology reported that after a workout, the levels of ghrelin (a hormone that produces hunger) are incredibly high, while the levels of leptin (a hormone released when being satiated) are low. The opposite happens in men. This biochemical difference makes women more hungry after a workout than men, which could result in eating more after a workout and as a result, ingesting more calories than they should [3].

Photo by Luis Quintero on Unsplash

As you can see, there is scientific proof that men have it easier than women. But there is no point in sitting and complaining about this because there is nothing you can do about it. You have to work with what you have and do everything you can to lose the most amount of weight despite this disadvantage. As previously stated, it is important to vary your workouts and include weight training. Also, make sure that you are eating according to your caloric requirements since it can be easy to go above your daily limit.

We would not be surprised if you have tried traditional saunas before and couldn't stand the room temperature. If this is the case, then you will love infrared saunas due to their much more bearable temperatures. Infrared saunas use infrared waves, which are a type of invisible light that heats your body without drastically changing the room temperature. These have many benefits, with weight loss being one of them. In just one session, you can potentially burn up to 400 calories. How? Infrared saunas increase circulation, which pumps up your heart rate, simulating cardiovascular exercise. Please note though, that you should not use an infrared sauna as a replacement or substitute for traditional means of cardio. Infrared saunas are meant to compliment your daily health regime, not replace it. An additional benefit also includes directly stimulating your metabolism [4].

Another reason why infrared saunas can be of help is that they have been proven to improve endurance and promote recovery in athletes. If you have more energy, you will be able to work out harder and burn more calories [5].

There are many ways you can fight the natural unfairness of being a woman. Sure, there are many obstacles in your way but with determination, you can overcome them. Use the knowledge you have learned today and apply them to the hills you must overcome. Good luck ladies!