Forget penciling in sexual playtime on the weekends or your days off. You’ll enjoy it more when you head to the bedroom on the days when your libido and orgasm intensity peak in your cycle. Here are the perfect—and not so perfect—days for bedroom fun throughout the month:

Week 1: Hot days
First day of period to Day 7
This week’s hormone sex-scope: There’s lots to look forward to this week: your libido surges more and more each day, it’s easier to reach orgasm and the orgasms you do experience will be all-over intense. Credit goes to testosterone, a sex-enhancing hormone that rises thoughout this phase of your cycle. Jump into bed on these days with your mate or your favorite toy and you will not be disappointed. Turned off by “messy” period sex? There’s an easy solution: Try the Instead Softcup, a handy diaphram-shaped menstrual aid that neatly—and discreetly—collects menstrual fluid.

Week 2: Red hot days
Day 8 to Day 13
This week’s hormone sex-scope: There is simply no  reason to miss these days of your cycle for sexual fun. Testosterone reaches its peak, which amps up your libido, makes it easier than ever to achieve orgasm and makes your orgasms more intense than during any other time in your cycle. In fact, if you can think of anything other than sex on these days, you get a gold star. Not feeling the libidinous love? Then it’s a red flag that something is amiss, perhaps, a hormone imbalance, too much stress, not enough sleep or another problem you need to talk with your doctor about.

Week 3: Lukewarm days
Day 14 (or ovulation) to Day 22
This week’s hormone sex-scope: Your sex life suddenly gets hit with a double-whammy: testosterone is at lower levels on these day and progesterone is rising all week long. Together, this hormonal duo dampens your libido and makes it difficult to reach orgasm. Even if you do manage to climax, it will be far less intense than the previous two weeks. All that said, it’s not like the sex you’ll have on these days will be torture. Any type of pleasant caressing, rubbing and titillation triggers a surge of feel-good brain chemicals that will make you feel wonderful for hours.

Week 4: Bonus hot days
Day 23 to the end of cycle
This week’s hormone sex-scope: Here’s a hormonal surprise: Testosterone plunges on these days, yet your sex drive surges. Researchers suspect this unexpected libido boost is a result of your body preparing for menstruation, which ends up stimulating nerve endings down below. Note: You may want to keep a bottle of personal lubricant by the bedside since declining estrogen on these days can decrease your natural lubrication, making intercourse a tad chafey.

Tip: The ultimate day—and time—for sex is…
 The morning of Day 13 of a woman’s monthly cycle. The morning is when a man’s testosterone peaks in his 24-hour hormone cycle. And Day 13 is when testosterone peaks in a woman’s cycle. When these hormonal highs intersect, they can set the stage for the most intense orgasms all month long.

[photo: Jonathan Fain]

Ready for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays? You can make the festivities more enjoyable by knowing how your hormones will be impacting your mood, energy, patience, chattiness and more. Read on to find out what to expect from your holiday events based on which week you’re on in your monthly cycle….

Week 1
First day of period to Day 7
Your holiday hormonescope: You’re in the mood to make merry!
Rising estrogen and testosterone are prompting your brain to churn out loads of feel-good chemicals. As a result, you’re in the mood to have the kind of holiday fun you enjoyed as a kid: You want to sing Christmas songs, decorate and follow all your cherished family traditions to the letter even if it means baking a 20-pound fruitcake that no one eats, braving 20-below weather to go caroling around your neighborhood and suffering bruises while battling post-Christmas Day crowds to get a jump on next year’s Christmas shopping. Christmas Day is particularly magical for you since it conjures up favorite memories from yesteryear. And the extra dose of good will from rising hormones means you can even finally forgive your big brother for spreading that vicious lie about Santa really being your parents. You’ll probably take lots of pictures and post them on every social networking site you can think of despite the many protests of Aunt Sarah who’s convinced that it’s the camera adding an extra 10 pounds, not the Christmas cookies. And, if (okay, when) something goes wrong—for instance, the cat knocks over the Christmas tree or an unexpected guest shows up and you need a present quick—your hormones will have you rolling with the punches and thinking fast on your feet to fix it. For New Year’s Eve, you’re ready with a resolution or two if only to keep with tradition. And you’re equally ready to break them by the first week of January, also in keeping with tradition.
How to make it better: Realize that while you may be feeling jolly, there could be a Grinch or two around you who aren’t in the mood to fa-la-la-la-laaa their way through the holidays. So, don’t let their sour attitude infect your joyous celebrations. Also, if menstrual cramps early in the week threaten to ruin your festivities, beat them into submission with chamomile tea and a heating pad, which relax tense uterine muscles, and ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), which research shows relieves cramps better than other over-the-counter painkillers. A medicinal snowman-shaped cookie or two wouldn’t hurt, either.

Week 2
Day 8 to Day 13
Your holiday hormonescope: You’re the life of the party!
High estrogen and testosterone are making you energetic, chatty, flirtatious, confident and bold. You’re the one who’s first to turn on the Karoake machine at the holiday party and take two, three, even four turns before letting anyone else near the mic, and then the one dragging the shyest person in the room up to the front and forcing him to sing. It probably goes without saying that fueling your hormonal fire with holiday cocktails only makes you more audacious. But, no matter how many lampshades you put on your head, folks who give you gifts will adore you. That’s because peaking hormones ups your excitement, making you likely to squeal, jump and do a happy dance over presents as small as an iPod case or regifted T-shirt. When it comes to declaring New Year’s resolutions, people may want to take a seat because you have many. High estrogen and testosterone are making you feel certain that this is the year you’ll drop 40 pounds (in a month), run a marathon (and come in first), become a vegan (right after you finish the turkey on your plate), complete your novel (you have only 256 more pages to go) and save the whales (once you get a warmer parka)! As soon as you shake off your holiday hangover, head to the mall in the morning to take advantage of post-Christmas Day sales. You’ve got the energy, patience and stamina to make it through dozens of bargain bins and clearance racks without breaking a sweat. Fellow shoppers may want to step aside and let you rummage, however—once you spy a deal you want, you may resort to pushing, elbowing or pulling a “Is that George Clooney over by the bras?” distraction ploy to snag it!
How to make it better: Avoid flirting with absolutely everyone you see. Even though high estrogen is making you look and feel more beautiful than any other week of your cycle and high testosterone is revving up your libido to gotta-have-you levels, not everyone (or their significant others) will appreciate your not-so-subtle advances. Also key: Try to keep your inner party girl in check at corporate functions where dancing on the bar or crooning “Crazy For You” to the company CEO could come back to haunt you at your next review.

Week 3
Day 14 (or ovulation) to Day 22
Your holiday hormonescope: You’re a mellow muncher!
Rising progesterone is tiring you out, making you quiet and upping your desire for ooey, gooey, salty, sugary comfort foods. The good news for you is that there always seems to be a plethora of delicious treats to nibble at every holiday gathering. The bad news is that you’re going to be stuck trying to dodge excrutiatingly painful small talk with a room full of ex in-laws, annoyingly overachieving cousins and weird Uncle Frank as you try to make it to the buffet table before your favorite mini-quiche are all gobbled up. An important note for Week 3 gals: When you receive gifts, try to pump up your enthusiasm. Progesterone is a sedating hormone, which makes you less likely to smile, gasp, clap your hands and show any other kind of excitement a gifter hopes to see from a giftee. And if you want an equally good or better present next year, you’re definitely going to want to put on a show. While post-Christmas Day sales are tempting, you’ll probably find it hard to muster the motivation to make it out to the stores. If you do go, focus on one or two shops rather than a whole mall since your pep will peter out pretty quickly. And, avoid test driving any reclining massage chairs at all costs—your family will be utterly mortified when the security guards have to hoist you out of it at closing time. This is not the week to make New Year’s diet resolutions since progesterone-fueled cravings will have you breaking them faster than a plate of Oreos disappears at a pre-school snack-time.
How to make it better: Your energy is already on the downswing thanks to pep-sapping progesterone, so try to avoid anything else that can make you drowsier, such as alcohol and sitting too close to that one family friend whose boring stories can put even the family dog to sleep.

Week 4
Day 23 to the end of cycle
Your holiday hormonescope: Is it January 2nd yet?
During your premenstrual week, plunging hormones can make you a bit weepy, irritable, sensitive and impatient. That’s because they decrease feel-good brain chemicals that balance out your mood. But, try explaining that to relatives, exes and friends who seem to be on a mission to work your every last nerve with what they think passes as holly jolly merriment, like the hysterical reminiscing about how you accidentally dropped last year’s Christmas turkey on the floor or the 23rd generous offer to set you up on a blind date so you won’t be alone on New Year’s Eve. It’s not that your loved ones have become more grating than usual—it’s just that lower hormones make you see their annoyances more clearly this week than any other week of your cycle. These hormones are also making you a tad less resilient in the face of change or disaster—both of which are in rich supply during the holidays. So, you may get a wee bit frustrated when the cookies burn, the dog poos on the carpet in the middle of your party or your adorable niece vomits a (stolen) plateful of brownies onto your beautifully set dining table. You know, the one adorned with the good china you take out only once a year at Christmas. After you recuperate from the holiday (with wine, unburned cookies and/or copious amounts of sleep), you may be tempted to check out post-Christmas Day bargains. However, you’re better off sticking to online deals instead of heading to crowded stores where an elbowing, shouting, toe-stomping mass awaits to spark a premenstrual bad mood. As for New Year’s, you’ll likely skip resolutions this year since you’re (probably quite rightly) convinced that no one makes it past the first week of January anyway.
How to make it better: Buy yourself the one gift you really want this year. That way, when you don’t get it from anyone else, it won’t spark a premenstrual temper flare that rivals whatever Kim Jong-il can dream up. And, if by chance, someone does treat you to that special something, now you’ll have two. Score!

Grab your credit cards and comfortable shoes: it’s time to go holiday shopping! If you want to make this year’s spending marathon stress-free, try syncing your shopping list with your cycle! Read on to find out which stores will make you happiest and which overspending pitfalls to avoid based on the week you’re on in your monthly cycle….

Week 1
First day of period to Day 7
Your holiday shopping hormonescope: Keep it local
When possible, aim to shop at mom-and-pop stores and neighborhood boutiques. Estrogen and testosterone start out at low levels this week, and this makes you more comfortable in familiar places that are close to home. These rising hormones also makes you chattier, so you’ll appreciate the personalized attention and friendliness of a smaller store.
Save money by… Avoiding impulse items, such as bath products, gadgets and anything else placed strategically close to a cash register. Rising testosterone makes you more likely to splurge on small items like these that are not on your shopping list. And you’ll be surprised how fast those small purchases add up!

Week 2
Day 8 to Day 13
Your holiday shopping hormonescope: Battle the crowds and roads
Head to the mall or stores that are far away. Estrogen and testosterone reach their peaks this week and this gives you lots of energy, endurance and optimism—all traits that will help you brave the mega-crowds, snarled traffic, extra-long lines and overworked salespeople while keeping holiday spirits high. These hormones also make you crave adventure and new experiences, so a long trip to a new shop is especially fun.
Save money by… Comparison shopping before purchasing expensive gifts. High estrogen and testosterone give you a confidence boost, making you feel like you’ve got more money to spend than you really do.

Week 3
Day 14 (or ovulation) to Day 22
Your holiday shopping hormonescope: Aim for convenience
Sedating progesterone rises this week, sapping you of energy and endurance and making you tire out more quickly than in previous days. So you’ll be happiest doing your holiday shopping at one-stop shops and department stores that have lots of different types of items all under one roof, making it easy to get more gift-buying done in less time. An added bonus this week: The usual holiday shopping annoyances are less irritating as progesterone makes you feel mellower and more relaxed.
Save money by… Not getting suckered by a cute face. Research shows that progesterone makes you more susceptible to buying anything that uses adorable images of babies, puppies and other cuddly creatures to entice them. Also important: Stash snacks in your purse. Progesterone is making you feel hungrier, and a recent study shows that hungry shoppers make worse buying decisions compared to those who are well fed!

Week 4
Day 23 to the end of cycle
Your holiday shopping hormonescope: Log on
Turn to the Internet, catalogues and home shopping channels. During these premenstrual days, estrogen, testosterone and progesterone plunge and they take your patience with jostling crowds, honking traffic and pushy salespeople down with them. These plunging hormones also make you more sensitive to pain, such as being bumped or stepped on by fellow shoppers.
Save money by… Not going overboard on “medicinal shopping”, which you may be tempted to do to combat descending hormone irritability and achiness.

BONUS: The Hormonology Guide to Shopping for Men!
Bringing a guy along to shop with you? Here’s how his 24-hour hormone cycle will be impacting his shopping experience:

Morning
His holiday shopping hormonescope: Small and far away
Testosterone peaks in the early part of the day, which gives men lots of energy, but also makes them more likely to get cranky over little frustrations, like crowds and parking. As a result, they’ll be happier visiting smaller boutiques, which are typically less packed. High testosterone also heightens men’s spatial abilities, so these are the hours they’ll map out the fastest traveling routes for stores that are long distances away.
Save money by… Keeping a limit on items not on their list. High testosterone makes men more impulsive in these hours. They may also want to avoid drinking lots of coffee while shopping and getting suckered by images of products that use scantily clad women to sell them—studies show these both make men even more likely to overspend by making their testosterone level climb even higher.

Afternoon
His holiday shopping hormonescope: Battle the crowds
Shop at the mall and department stores. Testosterone dips to the middle of its cycle in these hours, so men still have lots of energy and stamina to withstand long lines and visits to lots of stores, but they’ll also be less easily irritated and have more patience with crowds and while jockeying for parking spaces.
Save money by… Looking for bargains. Since men are a tad less impulsive during these hours thanks to declining testosterone, it’s a good time for them to put off buying gifts till they find the best price.

Evening
His holiday shopping hormonescope: Log on�
Turn to the Internet, catalogues and home shopping channels. This is the time of day when testosterone reaches its lowest level, which makes men’ss energy, stamina and concentration bottom out. As a result, they may feel too sapped to hit the stores.
Save money by… Feeding them energizing foods, like an iron-rich burger or tuna sandwich. Otherwise, they may be tempted to settle on a pricey product just so they can stop shopping and take a nap!

Start your day with your free Hormone Horoscope
every weekday at myhormonesmademedoit.com!

facebook.com/myhormonesmademedoit

twitter.com/hormonology

[photo: D Sharon Pruitt]

Bracing yourself for an upcoming family gathering? Whether you love’em or dread’em, you can make every get-together with your kinfolk happier when you know how your hormones will be impacting your mood, desire to chat, patience with others, energy level and more. Read on to find out what to expect from your next family meal based on which week you’re on in your monthly cycle….

Week 1
First day of period to Day 7
Your family get-together hormonescope: Your family isn’t all that bad!
Good news: You’re in the mood to mingle and reconnect with family members this week as low-but-rising estrogen makes you more comfortable around people you know well. Even better: You’re willing to overlook most snarky back-handed compliments and re-tellings of thoroughly humiliating experiences you’d wish everyone could just forget. Of course, even Week 1 gals have their limits, so have a few conversation-changers prepared in advance.
If you’re hosting dinner… Prepare as much as you can ahead of time and recruit helpers. During menstruation, energy levels sag, so you’ll want the extra set of hands to help keep you going all day long.

Week 2
Day 8 to Day 13
Your family get-together hormonescope: You’re the life of the party!
Peaking estrogen and testosterone will have you chatting up a storm—you’re starting lots of conversations and easily answering even the stickiest questions that only family members know how to pose for maximum squirming effect. Family jokesters will be swarming around you since these high hormones boost your mood and make it easier to smile at Uncle Roy’s magic tricks and laugh at the same jokes Aunt Sally repeats every year. A word of warning: Your hormones make your passion and confidence overflow this week, so you may feel it’s the right time to admit something your family feels is controversial—for instance, that you’re gay or that you love karaoke. Coming out as a karaoke lover is hard on everyone at first. So remember to give your family time to adjust. And try to spring it after dessert. There’s nothing worse than storming out before pie.
If you’re hosting dinner… Peaking estrogen and testosterone give you the energy and stamina you need to cook and serve all day. You’ll also have energy left over to clean up. But why let on when you can recruit someone else to do it?

Week 3
Day 14 (or ovulation) to Day 22
Your family get-together hormonescope: Smiling on the inside!
Rising progesterone puts a mellower spin on your day. You’re relaxed, perhaps a tad tired, and are too calm to be ruffled by even the most passive-aggressive of relatives. You’re also quieter than in the past two weeks, giving shorter answers to questions and bringing up fewer conversation topics. If you don’t want the kinfolk to mistake your silence for sullenness, sit next to your chattiest relative. Then simply ask a few starter questions, such as, “How are you?” or “Can you pass the candied yams?”, which will be enough to put them on verbal auto-pilot and make you look like the best, most engaged listener in your entire family tree.
If you’re hosting dinner… Steer clear of anything that can make you drowsier than you already feel, such as wine or an extra helping of food, which puts you in a fog by diverting blood from your brain to your stomach. 

Week 4
Day 23 to the end of cycle
Your family get-together hormonescope: Their flaws are out; your claws are out!
It’s not that your relatives are any more annoying than usual. It’s just that, as estrogen and testosterone descend, it’s almost impossible not to focus on your family’s foibles. Sis makes noises when she eats. Grandma smells funny. Even your dad, who sits quietly eating his dinner, seems to be holding his fork all wrong. Woe to those family members who take a more active approach to annoying you—for instance, pointing out how they’d fix so-called problems in your life if they were you or offering to pair you up on a blind date with their thrice-divorced co-worker. Descending hormones aren’t gonna like that either. Other than that, you’re feeling quiet, introspective and may be found circling the punch bowl for solace. And not the mocktail one, either.
If you’re hosting dinner… Expect a dropped dish, burned biscuits and any other cooking mishap. That’s because you’re feeling a bit more like a perfectionist this week, and when things don’t go your way, it can spark a noradrenaline temper flare—an angry outburst that’s a result of declining serotonin on these premenstrual days. When you expect an accident ahead of time, it won’t be as big a deal and, therefore, won’t bother you as much. And your china gravy boat will thank you.

Start your day with your free Hormone Horoscope every weekday at
myhormonesmademedoit.com!

facebook.com/myhormonesmademedoit

twitter.com/hormonology

[photo: waitingforwonderful]

Hormones are usually blamed when we gain a few pounds. But, truth is, your hormones can also help you reach your weight-loss goals. That’s because they affect your eating habits and metabolism in ways that promote weight loss during certain weeks of your cycle. Once you know how to harness these pound-melting hormonal influences and how to overcome hormonal hurdles that have been blocking your slimming goals, you can finally be successful in dropping a dress size (or two or three)! Read on to learn how to take advantage of your body’s hormonal benefits and get past hormonal diet sabateurs each week of your cycle….

Week 1
First day of period to Day 7
Your slim-down hormonescope: Set your goals and get started!
As estrogen and testosterone rise this week, they boost optimism and inner strength, making you want to create and stick to diet and exercise resolutions. And it’s the easiest week to launch a new healthy eating regimen since progesterone-fueled cravings for sugary, salty, fatty and carb-rich foods that plagued you during the second half of your cycle vanish as this hormone makes a hasty exit. Plus, Tufts University research shows you’re eating 12% less now than you did during the second half of your cycle thanks to rising estrogen, which has a mild appetite-suppressing effect. While pep and endurance start out low in the first half of this week, they grow to full force by the second half.
Your Week 1 weight-loss challenge: If you end up caving in to temptation by eating a food on your no-no list, rising estrogen is giving your brain a bigger buzz from it, making it difficult to cut yourself off before doing real damage to your calorie count. Plus, rising testosterone is making you impulsive, so you may reach for a fat-packed munchie before you even realize what you’re doing!
To reach your weight-loss goal: Start by mapping clear, practical and attainable diet and exercise strategies—don’t let optimism-inducing hormones let you bite off more than you can chew or you’ll lose interest altogether. Then, take advantage of these low-craving days by eating lots of high-nutrient, low-calorie foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats if you’re a meat eater. Finally, monitor your eating habits (for instance, by eating mindfully or jotting down what you eat in a daily diary) to help you become more aware of when you’re about to go overboard with snacks or portion sizes. If you do tuck into your favorite munchies, use portion control dishes or dole out a small serving so you don’t accidentally eat more than you intended.

Week 2
Day 8 to Day 13
Your slim-down hormonescope: Take action!
Peaking estrogen and testosterone amp up the positives from last week—you’re still enjoying a slight-appetite suppressing effect, you have loads of energy and endurance, and your optimism keeps you motivated about reaching your weight-loss goals. These rising hormones also make you more open to trying anything new, including healthy recipes and workout routines.  This makes it a great week to amp up your efforts by joining a support group or exercise class, fitting in an extra workout and challenging yourself to swear off one high-calorie baddie altogether, like soda, ice cream or chips.
Your Week 2 weight-loss challenge: High estrogen and testosterone are also amping up all the negatives from last week—you may eat impulsively and, once you start munching, it may be difficult to keep calorie counts in check. What’s more, you may feel so overly confident about reaching your goals that, if you do overindulge in calorie-rich foods, you’ll try to convince yourself you’ll be able to make up for it by cutting back or exercising more the following day. You have one more challenge to your weight goal this week: Peaking estrogen makes your stress response more intense, which can prompt the production of stress hormones, like cortisol, that trigger food cravings and emotional eating.
To reach your weight-loss goal: Continue monitoring your portion sizes and keep stress levels in check by taking a walk, meditating, doing deep, slow breathing, or sipping chamomile tea at the first sign of tension. Also try decreasing your intake of caffeine, which can amp up your body’s stress response.

Week 3
Day 14 (or ovulation) to Day 22
Your slim-down hormonescope: Munchies vs. fat burn!
The excitement and confidence you had during the first two weeks of your cycle is replaced by fear and self-doubt. That’s because estrogen and testosterone are plunging, taking your confidence with them. What’s more, progesterone rises all throughout Week 3, and this prompts bloat by triggering constipation and water retention, making you feel like you packed on 10 pounds overnight. But, it’s not all bad news: Research shows that progesterone helps your body burn up to 30% more fat during exercise all through Week 3 and most of Week 4!
Your Week 3 weight-loss challenge: You may get suckered into thinking you blew your diet because of the one, two or three pounds you put on this week; the constipation and water retention are the likely culprits, which means the weight gain is temporary. However, this hormone is also triggering cravings for sweets, carbs, fats and salty foods, making them more difficult to resist when you go grocery shopping, to the movies, parties or anywhere else munchies may be within reach. What’s more, this sedating hormone is making your energy drag, so you may not feel like getting up off the couch to exercise.
To reach your weight-loss goal: Combat the diet blahs by shedding those extra progesterone pounds with high-fiber foods (such as whole grains paired with water, fruits and vegetables) to ease constipation and try natural diuretics (such as asparagus, melon and dandelion tea, as long you have no ragweed or rubber allergies) to eliminate water retention or sweat it out through exercise. Also, avoid salt, which exacerbates bloat. As for cravings, when the urge hits, go for a walk—research shows that just 10 minutes (about the time it takes to go around the block once!) will crush those hunger pangs. Finally, motivate yourself to move by reminding yourelf that your body burns 30% more fat during exercise! Then take advantage of this biological blessing by doing fun activities that get your heart pumping, such as hopping on a bike or dancing.

Week 4
Day 23 to the end of cycle
Your slim-down hormonescope: Final stretch!
Okay, so cards on the table: This may be the hardest week of your cycle when it comes to sticking to your diet. That’s because plunging estrogen drags down the feel-good brain chemical serotonin, which can make you feel like you somehow failed in your weight loss efforts and/or that you don’t see any positive changes in your body. If you can get past those negative feelings and not let them sabatoge your goals, you can actually use Week 4′s hormones to help you slim down faster. That’s because progesterone is still making your body burn up to 30% more fat during exercise up to two days before your period!
Your Week 4 weight-loss challenge: To make up for your lack of serotonin, your body will push your toward comforting carbs (such as cookies, bread, cake, pizza, etc.), because they boost serotonin levels back up. (Ever notice how grouchy people get while doing low-carb diets? Mystery solved.) Plunging estrogen is also making you more sensitive to aches and pains during your workout and driving down your pep and endurance. As a result, you may tire out easily or find it harder to do you usual exercise routine.
To reach your weight-loss goal: When you get a hankering for carbs, remind yourself that “simple” carbs (like sugar and white flour) aren’t the only serotonin-lifters around—healthier carbs (like whole grain bread, brown rice, nuts and beans) also boost flagging serotonin back up. Even better, they’re filling, so you’ll naturally eat less at meals. Also, consider eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acid, such as fatty fish (like tuna and salmon), flax seeds and walnuts since this nutrient has been shown to help overcome down moods and anxiety that trigger emotional eating. You’re still experiencing bloating and constipation due to progesterone, so continue with Week 3′s tips for combatting both. And, finally, if you feel like giving up altogether on your weight-loss goals, just remember it’s simply due to plunging hormones. Try journaling your emotions or calling a friend for support. If you keep up the forward momentum, you’ll see in just a few short days you’ll be feeling optimistic and renewed about your waist-whittling efforts once again.

facebook.com/myhormonesmademedoit

twitter.com/hormonology

[photo: D Sharon Pruitt]