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Coach Debbie has been in the health and fitness industry for over twenty-five years and was a competitive endurance athlete for twenty years. Along her journey, she has accomplished many goals including being nominated as one of the top one hundred best trainers in the U.S. by Men’s Journal in 2004 and 2005 as well as participating in fifteen Ironman Triathlons – five of them were the Hawaii World Ironman Championship. Debbie owned and operated her own fitness studio in Bellevue Washington for twelve years to offer an “all in one” health and fitness studio – including The WHOLESTIC Method coaching programs and individualized Nutritional Therapy services to transform the WHOLE person from the inside out.

Debbie moved from her busy stressful life in Bellevue, WA to North San Diego in the summer of 2020 to improve her quality of life after she struggled with “Adrenal Exhaustion” chronic fatigue and “metabolic chaos” started in 2013. Debbie wrote a book, “Life is Not a Race- It is a Journey”, to share her journey and struggles to help other ambitious, high performers avoid going through what happened to her, even though she was doing all the “right” things when she experienced the onset of burnout and breakdown. Debbie coaches high performers how to get their body and vibrant self back again by investigating what is actually going on from the inside out to put the missing pieces of their unique health puzzle back together again so they can thrive again.

Debbie Potts

The WHOLESTIC Method Program

Fat Loss. Performance. Longevity.

PNOE Metabolic Testing Certified

FDNP and FNTP NASM CPT, CHEK HLC, USAT

Host of the Low Carb Athlete Podcast

www.debbiepotts.net

https://www.youtube.com/@thelowcarbathletepodcast

What is the ideal “Anti-Aging Protocol” for you??

Nutrition
Exercise
Sleep
Stress Management
Movement & Mobility
Digestion & Gut Health
Hydration & Mineral Balance
Happiness, Gratitude, Play & Laughter

Hello Debbie,

Perimenopause symptoms can be influenced by various hormones, including high or low estrogens, low progesterone, imbalanced cortisol levels, and fluctuating blood sugar levels.

No need to fret – we dedicated this entire month to discussing these hormonal imbalances providing clear explanations and guidance toward the appropriate next steps.

In today’s email: High/low cortisol levels and perimenopause.

What is it?

Got stress? Emotional, physical, spiritual, or chemical? If you’re a normal human being, you’ve probably experienced these or maybe still do.

During times of stress, the body releases additional levels of cortisol for the body to cope.

This could be problematic due to elevated inflammation and reduction of progesterone levels, leading to a cascade of hormonal imbalances.

How does it impact perimenopause?

In a big way.

The adrenals are even more precious during perimenopause because they partly take over estrogen production from the ovaries.

As we age, our ovaries slow down and reduce estrogen output. This is when the adrenal glands pick up. Well-functioning adrenals can make perimenopause an easier experience.

What are the symptoms?

Overstimulated adrenal health (high cortisol) has symptoms such as:

Tired and wired

Trouble sleeping

Midnight waking

No energy in the morning

Can’t fall asleep

Belly fat

Anxiety

Short fuse

Coffee cravings

Hair loss

Under-stimulated adrenal health (low cortisol levels) can manifest as these symptoms:

Severe fatigue

Memory loss

Frequent sickness

Overreacting

Crying spells

Lack of motivation

Lightheadedness

Salt cravings

Low sex drive

Unstable blood sugar levels

Can you experience both?

Yes. There may be days or times of the day when the adrenals go either way.

What can you do?

Ask yourself: What are the sources of your stress and how can you reduce and eliminate them? (Stress can be emotional, physical, spiritual, or chemical.)
Prioritize sleep and day rest (it’s not laziness).
Get on an anti-inflammatory diet (both our cookbooks use this approach; Cooking for Hormone Balance and Overcoming Estrogen Dominance)
Reduce or stop coffee and alcohol.
Consider adding adaptogens (botanicals that help regulate the HPA axis). These include Rhodiola, Asian ginseng, Tulsi (Holy Basil), Cordyceps, and Licorice (best for underactive cases). Our Adrenal TLC has been formulated with many of these.
In times of stress, the body uses excessive amounts of vitamins C, B (especially B5 and B6), and magnesium. Adding supplements during stressful times or during recovery is highly recommended. We carry Magnesium Replenish, B Maximus, and Vitamin C Complete (100% food-derived) if you want to check it out.

If your condition is chronic, consider working with a functional practitioner.

What does Dr. Stacy Sims on training the menopausal athlete?

What is the WHY behind the suggestions Dr. Stacy Sims provides in her book Next Level and her Menopause 2.0 course?

Follow my journey on my YouTube Channel (LOW CARB ATHLETE COACH) and my blog posts here!

Ask about my coaching packages to learn how to fuel, train and perform your best as an aging athlete!

Do you have High, Optimal, or Low Cortisol Levels?