Ep. 323: Why You Can't Lose Weight After 40: 5 Signs It's Your Hormones, Not Your Willpower

You've cut calories. You've exercised. You've tried to “eat better.” So why is the scale still moving in the wrong direction? If weight loss suddenly feels harder than it used to, your biology may have changed.

In this episode, we uncover five signs that your weight gain could be driven — at least in part — by hormonal changes involving your thyroid, perimenopause, insulin, cortisol, and the hormones that regulate hunger and fullness. The message is simple: struggling with your weight doesn't automatically mean you're lacking willpower.

We'll explore the five patterns you shouldn't ignore: weight gain accompanied by fatigue and feeling cold, changes in your body shape and menstrual cycle, a diet that suddenly stops working, intense sugar cravings and energy crashes, and weight gain that appears alongside chronic stress or poor sleep.

You'll hear how hypothyroidism can slow metabolism, why declining estrogen can shift fat toward the abdomen, how chronic calorie restriction can increase physical stress, and why insulin resistance can make it harder for the body to burn stored fat.

And there's an important takeaway: the answer isn't necessarily another restrictive diet. Targeted testing — including thyroid, glucose and insulin testing, and reproductive hormone testing when appropriate — can help identify what's actually happening. We'll also talk about the often-overlooked impact of sleep and stress, including research showing that even short-term sleep restriction can alter leptin and ghrelin, increasing hunger and appetite.

🎤 If you've been blaming yourself for a body that seems to be fighting back, tune in for a different perspective: stop fighting your biology and start understanding it.

LEARN MORE

5 Signs Your Weight Gain Is Hormonal, Not a Willpower Problem

https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/5-signs-weight-gain-is-hormonal-not-a-willpower-problem

ABOUT PALOMA HEALTH

⁠⁠Paloma Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is an online medical practice focused on treating hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, perimenopause, menopause, and hormonal weight gain. From online visits with your provider to easy prescription management and lab orders, we create personalized treatment plans for you.

Become a member⁠, or try our at-home test kit and experience a whole new level of hypothyroid care. Use code PODCAST to save $30 at checkout.

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