Mysty PfefferI’m talking about the comparison trap and progesterone today. You and I need solid tools to navigate hormones, emotional health, and weight health, don’t we?
The apostle Paul in the Bible has a lot to say about the matter in 1 and 2 Corinthians. It must be frustrating to start a church, lead believers to repentance, and then have to instruct them as if they were children all over again.
I think you and I can relate, as we work alongside others in everyday life. He reminds the people of Corinth:
“Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”
2 Corinthians 10:12
I pray you are filled with truth today and ignore all those lovely people commending themselves, lol. There are so many of them, aren’t there? The apostle Paul is not alone navigating this age-old tendency of human nature.
Although he is talking about how the Corinthian believers compare him to other ministers, you and I might find ourselves looking at other people’s lives and doing the same thing in other ways. Spiritually and physically.
Comparison Trap Statements & the Bottom Line on Progesterone
Maybe some of these statements sound familiar:
- “Why isn’t she experiencing the same hormone upheaval as me? We’re the same age!”
- “How is my husband losing weight and I’m not? We’re doing the same diet and fasting routine!”
- “How does that church have so many in its congregation and continues to grow, and mine is not?”
- “How does that person balance everything so easily, and I can’t?”
I could go on and on about how we’re physically made different and exposed to various environmental factors that determine weight health, hormone balance, and being stuck in a body we don’t like. I could also emphasize the various gifts given to different people for different purposes and how God chooses to move in their lives. But you already know all of those things in regard to the comparison trap.
The bottom line for the Spiritual reason we compare ourselves is:
We’ve missed the beauty of Christ’s humility and don’t embrace it for ourselves.
Physically, we simply lack the understanding of how hormones work. For instance, let’s talk about progesterone. I work with an Integrative Family Medicine practice that prescribes hormone replacement for men (testosterone) and women (precursor supplements and bioidentical estriol, estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone).
Some people do very well, and others struggle in confusion because they have not been taught, nor do they want to take time to learn, the basics of hormone balance. It’s no different than their spiritual walk which would be so much richer and fulfilling if they just read their Bible daily and humble themselves before the Lord.
Sorry, I digress. . . you and I remember “being without understanding”, too, don’t we?
The Facts About Progesterone:
Men keep their natural production of progesterone from the adrenals and it comes from Leydig cells. It then follows an enzyme path producing pregnenolone and eventually progesterone and testosterone (if their hormone pathways are open and they are consuming a healthy diet to produce the adequate amounts everyday physiological stress requires).
Progesterone’s role in men is to produce sperm, improve mood, sleep, control inflammation, and manage kidneys and blood pressure. It is not generally prescribed to men as a replacement.
Women, on the other hand, lose their ability to produce adequate progesterone when they enter menopause. Progesterone is very important for producing embryos, menstruation, and maintaining a pregnancy.
According to Pamela Wartian Smith, MD, PHD it also: Acts as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory* helps sleep *builds bone * helps maintain bladder function *Helps prevent anxiety, irritability, mood swings *lowers LDL * Protects breasts* promotes myelin sheath in muscles * increases metabolic rate * relaxes smooth muscle (think heart and gut health) increases scalp hair* helps the body use and eliminate fats* and much more!
It’s important to note here: The hormone books I’ve read say one third of the women entering menopause do just fine without ANY hormone replacement—leaving 2/3rds of us NOT doing well.
Possible Causes of Progesterone Deficiency in both sexes:
Antidepressants * Aging * Decreased thyroid production * deficiencies in vitamin A, B6, C, and zinc *Saturated fat intake *Stress * High sugar intake*
When progesterone levels are high (which is rare and usually because women are prescribed too much!) we crave carbs, have increased risk of gallstones, increased cortisol, bloating, constipation, fullness, and increased appetite.
(Smith, 2010)
Do you see why natural ways to supplement the precursors (DHEA & pregnenolone) with balance from God’s whole food eating plan (without seed oils and excess sugar) is a better approach in the perimenopause phase for women, in the menopause phase for women taking hormone replacement, or for men?
Call to Prevent The Kneejerk Reaction:
Before questioning the amount (natural or replacement) of progesterone for your daily needs ask:
- Am I eating whole, healthy food and drinking pure, mineral rich water?
- Am I comparing myself to someone else too often?
- Do I manage stress with prayer, Bible reading, deep breathing, and allowing Christ to take captive every fearful thought?
- Am I getting the proper amount of rest, sleep, and movement I need to function well?
Journal a few thoughts about what you’ve learned today and do an assessment of your needs.
When we are “without understanding” in our spiritual lives we naturally compare ourselves to one another instead of Christ. We benefit by praying for spiritual eyes to process facts in the natural realm and the spiritual realm. If we don’t we will drown in the emotional upheaval of life. Especially during perimenopause!
Christ is our perfect example.
He is confident in who He is. He knows the Father. He trusts and obeys the Father, without question. He understands weakness in the flesh and told us parable after parable to help us understand why we do the silly things we do.
Most importantly, we can rest in the humbling beauty of being chosen as his children, too!
You know I’m here for you and want to help any way I can. Just send me a message if you need help balancing weight-health hormones better!
While you’re here look around for some delicious recipes from the garden to help with hormone balance!
