Nutrition and exercise are a huge part of the equation when it comes to overall health but there are often two things that coaches and doctors miss: hormones and metabolism. Hormones have a huge effect on us, especially women, as we age. From the age of 30 things start to change and can have a negative impact on our mood, sleep, energy, metabolism, and a whole host of other issues. I am no expert on hormones, although I do recommend that my clients get bloodwork so that we can know what other issues may be hiding in the background. In an effort to bring awareness to this topic I am excited to share my interview with my good friend Kim Schaper, online hormone/metabolic reset coach.
Introduce yourself and tell us a little about what you do and how you came into this line of work. In other words what is your why?
Hi, I’m Kim! I’m an online hormone/metabolic reset coach and I love helping women get healthy, balanced and happy without the obsession.
I got into this line of work back in 2015 when I was burned out from training numerous clients a day within the confines of a small gym.
I knew in my gut I could reach more women and while I loved my clients, I was itching to get in the online space to make a bigger impact.
Why have you made the shift into hormones and their importance to women’s health?
After being in the fitness space for a while I quickly realized there were many coaches and trainers missing the boat, myself included.
For many females, especially those who are 30 and above, hormones play a big role in overall health. They feel as though they’re doing all the things like eating well and exercising enough and not seeing the results they want.
I dove into hormones because I had a series of hormonal issues that were not getting resolved just from eating right and exercising. No matter how much I did, the weight would not budge and I hear this from so many women. You’re not alone!
From women who experience adult acne to mood swings to weight gain, many coaches are not well educated on how to handle their clients health issues. This is why I’m super passionate about hormones and metabolism because we’re all uniquely different and what might work for one person might not work for another.
Hormones are essential for every woman. I don’t care who says they’re not, they are lying and it’s mainly men who say it, lol. Hormones and metabolism are the building blocks to our entire system. If your thyroid is off, your mood will be dampened and your body will store fat. If you are insulin resistant, you’ll struggle with excess belly fat and feel like you gained 20 pounds when you look at carbs. If you have high stress, you can bet your cortisol will get elevated and you’ll hold onto inflammation and store more body fat.
No one talks about this stuff. Most just think if they put you on a simple meal plan you’re supposed to lose weight right away. Women feel discouraged, frustrated, and feel like a failure when they cannot maintain this level of dieting. Our bodies don’t care if we want to fit in our skinny jeans, our bodies just want to feel balanced and they will do whatever they need to to get to that state. Even if that means slowing down your metabolic rate or keeping some extra weight on you because of the high stress.
I believe all hormones are important for any female. To be honest, most women don’t know about their cycle, hormones, or endocrine system and to no fault of their own, we’re just told to trust our doctors and carry on.
Which hormones do you believe are the most important to discuss and be aware of for a woman? What tests should women ask for when going for bloodwork and why?
The ones I like to address the most are:
- Thyroid
- CRP-inflammation markers
- Pregnenolone
- Progesterone
- Testosterone
- Estrogen
- DHEA
I’ve also found there are 4 main contributors to women’s issues: (not all but most)
- High Cortisol
- Insulin Resistance
- Estrogen Dominance
- Low Thyroid
How do you help women?
I really love helping women feel good in their bodies again and educating them on body intuition. I also want them to know if they feel like something is going on, do not dismiss it! We know our bodies better than anyone else. I like to look at the entire picture.
How’s my clients sleep, nutrition, hormones, exercise, and stress? All 5 are important for optimal health and wellness.
I’ve gone through all of this and it has become my mission to help other women heal quicker than I did and give them access to top notch professionals. As a female, we’re already wearing a million hats: mom, wife, daughter, sister, boss, etc. and we don’t have time to run around and find doctor after doctor. We need guidance and a one stop shop where we can get everything under one umbrella.
How can people get in touch with you?
You can email me at info@kimschaper.com and I’m on Facebook and Instagram: Kim.Schaper. I also have a FREE facebook group: balancing hormones naturally.
I met Kim when I was working in Atlanta back in the early 2000’s and an so thankful and honored that she has allowed me to interview her and share her with my following. She is an amazing resource and I highly recommend reaching out if you need her services.
As always, if you want to change your relationship with food and your body please reach out to me and I would be happy to help!
