Oh, I assumed all centers did this. My center offers take home saliva test that you send to ZRT labs (http://www.zrtlab.com/test-kits/sali...ting-kits.html) and they do a full panel to check your hormone levels to see if you have too much or not enough estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, testosterone, DHEA, etc. They explained that hormone imbalance can be a likely cause of weight gain or difficulty losing weight. All the employees in my center seemed to have taken one and she kept using them as examples saying so and so did this and she's in her mid 20's and her estrogen was way off or this other person didn't have much at all of testosterone and then they have a product to help depending on the problem. So for some, the fix is MRC progesterone cream, while for others it's cortitrim or some other things. (lots of places sell these products though)
Of course, this is MRC, so when you try to dig further and get the science, they aren't able to speak to it very well, but I'm doing a bunch of online research and figured i'd pitch the question to the forum too.
She said she's had a lot of clients who were doing everything right, 100% on program and don't get anywhere near 3lbs a week (ME!) and after adjusting for hormones, the weight lost picked up a lot faster.
Last year I remember when my center was getting ready for this "test" to see which clients could "benefit" from a new product they were getting in...the progesterone cream. It was discussed excitedly in several weekly classes I attended. Yes, progesterone cream is available at many other places, however I discussed all of this with my doctor and he stated that "playing" with my body's hormones should only be done with a doctors supervision, as too much of this or that can lead to many health issues for women and a diet center is not the place to decide this and asked if they provided continued monitoring to ensure a client is not "rubbing" on too much hormone cream etc. In the end MRC has a great diet plan, ...that is... the balanced eating plan, everything else they offer is marketing for profit. When I went in to my center they knew I was there to learn to EAT to be healthier and thinner...I did not want or was interested in anything that promised a quick fix, faster results, amazing inch losses....as I tried them all two times before on the program and the only thing that is certain for long term success is to eat right and move our bodies.
Location: Purdue University area, near West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 647
S/C/G: 210/194/140 Rd 2 beginning 3/7
Height: 5' 3.5"
I learned of this "hormone" test just last weekend. I was told the price of the test was in excess of $200. I opted to purchase the "cream" mainly to help get my hot flashes under control and didn't have the test. If it helps, that will be the deciding factor for me. If I don't see a difference, I won't buy it again.
I discussed all of this with my doctor and he stated that "playing" with my body's hormones should only be done with a doctors supervision
I completely agree here, there's no way I would trust MRC to "interpret the results and prescribe the right solution", but doctor supervised or not, I'm curious if balancing hormones has worked for anyone.
Personally, I'd like a little more time to pass and see what other variables are involved before jumping straight to "it must be a hormone imbalance". I guess we'll see.
I actually did saliva testing through my gynecologists office. It came back that I have adrenal exhaustion. My adrenal glands were no longer producing adrenaline and were producing to much cortisol. My progesterone was to low and my testosterone was to low and I had almost no DHEA. My progesterone cream was specially made for me at a compounding center. This is so I had exactly the correct amount. Since I was already on the cream they just wanted to know how much I was paying for it. It was cheaper through my doctors office than through MRC. I never did ask how much it was at MRC but it must have been quite a bit by the look on her face. The centers may cost more because of the amount of progesterone in it?
I had been advised by my doctor that the foods I ate would help me to recover from adrenal exhaustion and that I had to increase my vegetable intake by 6 servings a day. Several other food changes were suggested thinking I may be gluten intolerant. In my head my best bet was to lose weight and get healthy and eat the correct foods for my body.
A little over a month into my program I slowly quit taking all the meds as I couldn't afford them and Program. I have lost over 40lbs and feel better now than when I was in high school without all the drugs. No more night sweats or hot flashes, no more panic attacks and my belly is getting smaller again with the MRC diet and exercise. Only taking HNS, multi vitamin, MRC total woman oil, my own fish oil. I did try cortitrim but for the price it didn't make a big enough difference that I would stay on it.
I know several people that have had hormonal issues that contributed to different health issues. I'm fairly sure that I had an imbalance before I got pregnant and that that was the reason it took us so long to have a baby.
I think that my imbalance was corrected by losing weight. I was going to have a blood culture run right before i found out i was pregnant and that would have told me alot I think, but i've been told by two different doctors that losing weight probably corrected hormonal issues that were keeping me from being pregnant.
I actually did saliva testing through my gynecologists office. I
Thanks for your post, i asked my center "can't i just go to my doctor for this" and she answered "they do the blood test not the saliva, which is less accurate" (not true) so that sorta lost my vote there, but I haven't known which kind of physician to go see for this. MRC charges $200 for the test, but that's also what the lab charges if you buy direct, so i'm not sure they're making much on the test, just on the treatments.
I think i'll do it just to see. Did you notice a difference in your weight loss other than areas of weight (ie belly)?
I actually did saliva testing through my gynecologists office. It came back that I have adrenal exhaustion..
Hi Dance4ever - I'm curious if you know what your weight loss average was during the program. I'm trying to get some data about weight loss averages and hormone correction. If you don't mind, I'd love to hear if you really did average 3# a week or more.
I learned of this "hormone" test just last weekend. I was told the price of the test was in excess of $200. I opted to purchase the "cream" mainly to help get my hot flashes under control and didn't have the test. If it helps, that will be the deciding factor for me. If I don't see a difference, I won't buy it again.
Hi Joy2MeNu,
Have you noticed if your weight loss average has improved since you began the cream?
I just did the test last week. I haven't gotten the tests back yet.. I plan on taking the results to my dr when I get them to see what she says. I don't think I want MRC to tell me the results and then sell me a bunch of stuff I really don't need..
GoalAug2010,
My average weight loss was about 1.5lbs per week. But I jumped around a bit, half pound one week and three the next, next week maybe only one pound. I didn't stay on program on Christmas day nor New Years Eve and it cost me having to sign for another 10wks to get my bmi and body fat % down. I consistantly lost every week though. I did exercise 30 minutes 3 times per week throughout and maxed out my hns. For me the hormone issues didn't seem to affect my weightloss with MRC.
I just started Maintenance yesterday! Very happy and excited to begin a new healthy journey.
I just posted the results of my saliva test on another forum, but the results weren't too bad. My cortisol is a little high which I kind of figured and my progesterone was low.. I think that was it.. I am at work so I don't have the paper with me. But all in all nothing to really write home about. They suggested I stay on the Corti Trim at least through stabilization and recommened the hormone cream which I did get today. What they heck I thought I would give it a shot.. Other than that they said I was doing ok, so no pressure to buy anything.. so that is my story and I am sticking to it! LOL.
Hormone testing
