Why Your Body Is Resisting Weight Loss

It’s Not Willpower! It’s Hormones, Stress & Blood Sugar

As someone who has struggled with weight her entire life, I deeply relate to the bewilderment you feel when the weight just won’t shift. You’re barely eating, you’re exercising daily, and the scales are still stuck. It’s demoralising, confusing, and it very quickly leads to the belief that you are broken and destined to just keep getting bigger.

I really wish my younger self knew what I know now.

First of all, I look back at old photos and wonder why I was so concerned in the first place… honestly, lol. But more importantly, that young woman had no idea that skipping meals, living by the motto “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” and surviving on caffeine and air was creating the perfect storm for inflammation, weight gain, and disordered eating.

She had no clue that punishing herself with starvation diets, over- or under-exercising, and chronic sleep deprivation was actually driving the very weight she was trying to escape.

Fast forward to today, and I understand exactly why the scales were stuck, or worse, creeping up. My body was stressed out of its tiny mind. Blood sugar regulation was a rollercoaster, hormones were almost certainly unimpressed, and the extra weight was doing its job: protecting me from the constant threats I was unknowingly placing in front of it.

Does that ring a bell?

When we’re younger, we can tolerate a surprising amount of self-abuse. But as we age, it becomes very obvious that what once “worked” no longer does. We need something different. Something safe.

As women, with hormones shifting and changing as we get older, this becomes even more important. There is a very real, bi-directional triad at play: stress, hormonal imbalance, and blood sugar dysregulation. Stubborn weight is often just one symptom, alongside inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, irritability, cravings… and the list goes on (you can probably fill in the blanks!).

To reduce stress, the body needs safety.

That safety comes from regular meals that nourish rather than punish. From movement that strengthens and lengthens instead of exhausting us. From daily routines that feel supportive, not like another thing we’re failing to keep up with.

Does that sound different to the life you’re living now?

So the big question becomes… what do we actually do?
What will work?
And honestly, can I even be bothered anymore?

Whoa. That sounds like hope has left the building! Start with the small, daily things to build your confidence.

Here’s a short list of things you can begin today:

• Stop punishing yourself by skipping meals or eating tiny portions. Aim for three balanced, nourishing meals a day.

• Prioritise sleep over the fad of getting up an hour earlier to force yourself into exercise you hate, or even journalling. You can do that later. But do get to bed earlier lol!

• Build in a genuine break during the day to tune out. Listen to the birds, meditate, or simply sit quietly. It doesn’t need to be dramatic. Just 10 minutes after lunch, sitting in the car before driving home, or before you walk through the door when you get home.

• Choose a form of movement you actually enjoy and focus on doing that. Walking, yoga, swimming, or a team sport. Whatever it is, do it without pushing. You don’t need to smash your heart rate or “just do a bit more.” Do it for the love of it.

And when you’re ready for the next step, I’m here.

Using Metabolic Balance, we can create an individualised nutrition plan that supports blood sugar balance, hormonal health, and nervous system regulation — while providing the structure needed to move out of survival mode and into something sustainable.

You can find more information about this approach here