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5 Telltale Signs You Have Adrenal Fatigue



Adrenal fatigue is the worst. And can be super finicky. Just when you think you've healed, it happens again.


Our adrenal glands, although small, are mighty. They can regulate 50 hormones in our body and if you've noticed cycle syncing has been tough, addressing your adrenal glands can be the kick you need.


Your adrenal glands are responsible for regulating your stress hormones. And with prolonged stress either mental or physical, your adrenal glands can overproduce cortisol and create irregular patterns in the way you need to feel focused, energetic and sleep well.


Adrenal fatigue, although not considered a medical diagnosis, can arise when you've been producing too much cortisol.


Dr. James L. Wilson coined the term "adrenal fatigue" and mentions how 40% of a woman's estrogen and progesterone are made in the adrenal glands. So we want these working properly if we want to achieve that calm energy we long for.


The adrenals also play a part in how you experience your pre-menstrual week, your period and fertility.


What causes adrenal fatigue?


Adrenal fatigue can happen with prolonged periods of stress both emotionally and physically.


So maybe you've been burning the midnight oil at work.


Or you just had a baby or kids that aren't sleeping through the night yet.


You need to be sleeping well for your body to effectively metabolize cortisol and good, quality sleep is crucial. In my postpartum journey I had to go through my two-week adrenal reset three times in order to heal! Usually I only have to do it once and I'm good to go (you can find the adrenal reset in the Lifestyle Plan, Moody Meltdowns to Balanced Bombshell Program, and Women's Health Business Accelerator Program).


Or your workouts are too intense and are throwing off your cortisol patterns.


Dieting can play a roll too, especially with your carbohydrate intake.


How can you tell if you have adrenal fatigue?


Here are five telltale signs you have adrenal fatigue:


1.You wake up feeling tired, even after a full night's rest and crave caffeine


Cortisol is meant to rise in the morning so you wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day. When your patterns are off you can stop producing cortisol at the right times. One of these times is when you first wake up in the morning.


You might find you need caffeine to feel awake and even with a few cups of Joe, you don't feel fully awake until mid to late morning.


For years I needed coffee to get me going and today I've found a much gentler transition to the day with a daily cup of matcha tea. There's still caffeine but it's much gentler on the body and doesn't cause a crash later in the day. This is my favorite matcha at the moment (I always look for ceremonial grade).


2. You have stubborn bloat or weight loss in your midsection


Excess cortisol can cause more bloat and weight to store in your midsection. You might find that no matter how well you eat, how much you exercise and anything you do for self care, doesn't get rid of it.


I've worked with many active women and athletes that see a plateau in their fitness efforts because they're struggling with adrenal fatigue. Exercising too much when your cortisol patterns are off can make weight hard to lose in your belly.


TUNE IN to my Q&A about adrenal fatigue on Instagram


3. You feel tired yet wired at night and find it's hard to wind down for sleep


You're tired all day, yet get a surge of energy later in the afternoon and into the evening making it harder to go to sleep. Cortisol is meant to spike at certain times of day to give you energy but as you get into the later evening hours, you should start to feel sleepy.


That tired yet wired feeling is a sign your cortisol pattern is off and your adrenals need some attention.


I love using Calm magnesium at night to help calm down my adrenal glands and prep my body for sleep. On days I'm really struggling, I spray magnesium oil on the bottom of my feet before going to bed (game changer). You can find both in my new Amazon shop here!


4. You're moody and even little things make you feel irritable


Our adrenal glands can throw off the balance of estrogen and progesterone, which can lead to feeling more irritable. Cortisol competes for the same receptors of progesterone (a calming hormone) and when too elevated attach where progesterone should (like the second part of your cycle). This is a recipe for feeling blah and moody before your period.


5. You have brain fog and a hard time concentrating


We all know what it feels like to concentrate on work and feel like we can't focus. If you've noticed it's become a consistent pattern, that brain fog can stem from your adrenal glands not working as optimally.


Resetting your adrenal glands can have amazing benefits for your health and life! Any time I feel I've been struggling with energy, stubborn midsection weight or my mood, I always come back to giving my adrenal glands more TLC.


Need a reset? My two-week adrenal reset is absolutely amazing! And I get unbelievable results every time.


Using food and fitness, you'll calm down your cortisol and start to feel better in just 14 days. You'll also receive information on specific herbs and supplements that can amplify your results.


My two-week adrenal reset can be found in all of my programs:


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