Guide to Overcoming Weight Loss Resistance

What is Weight Loss Resistance?

Simply put, it’s when your body has imbalances that make losing weight extremely difficult.

Some of these imbalances include:

• High cortisol due to chronic stress

• Excessive blue light exposure

• Heavy metal toxicity

• Estrogen dominance

• Low testosterone

• Hypothyroidism

• Blood sugar dysregulation

• Sleep disturbances

• Gut microbiome imbalances

The list is a long one! Luckily, once these imbalances are addressed,

weight loss gets much easier.

HIGH CORTISOL

Cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone, has a major impact on your weight. It

regulates your blood sugar, influences your metabolism, suppresses your immune

system, and reduces inflammation in your body. So when cortisol stays high for too

long, things can go haywire.

High cortisol levels can increase your appetite and cause cravings for sugary and

fatty foods, which may lead to weight gain. High cortisol can cause you to store

excess belly fat.

How to address it:

Balance your blood sugar and find ways to relieve your stress, whether

that’s:

• Meditation

• Spending time in nature

• Gentle exercise

• Breathwork

• Journaling

• Taking supplements

BLUE LIGHT EXPOSURE

Spending too much time staring at your phone, laptop, or TV may

show up on the scale. Electronic devices emit blue light, which disrupts your body’s

sleep-wake cycle, also known as your circadian rhythm.

Evidence shows that excessive blue light exposure in the evening can trigger

metabolic changes that may lead to weight gain.

How to protect yourself from blue light:

• Dim lights once the sun goes down.

• Use red light bulbs for night lights and reading lamps. They’re less likely to

• disrupt the sleep hormone melatonin.

• Avoid electronics for 2-3 hours before bed (or limit them at the very least).

• Use blue light blocking glasses when you do look at screens at night.

• Install blue light screen filters like Flux on phones, laptops, and tablets.

HEAVY METAL BUILDUP

Heavy metals like mercury and lead are everywhere. They’re found in the food we eat,

the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the products we use. When these toxic

metals build up, it can affect your health, and your waistline.

Research shows heavy metal accumulation is linked with a higher BMI and waist-

circumference. But it’s hard to pinpoint why.

Some say it’s because heavy metals disrupt hormone production. Others say it’s

because they deplete minerals, which can lead to weight gain. Either way, removing

these toxic metals may correct these imbalances... which may help you lose weight.

How to test:

Heavy metal tests can be done via your blood, urine, and hair. A slow, gentle approach is best for removing heavy metals. Work with a practitioner for guidance.

Other helpful tips:

Binders like activated charcoal and humic acid bind to toxic metals so they can be safely escorted from your body. Be sure to speak with your practitioner before doing this.

ESTROGEN DOMINANCE

Estrogen is a reproductive hormone that works in conjunction with its sister hormone, progesterone. Together, they regulate the menstrual cycle and set the stage for pregnancy.

But at times, estrogen levels can get too high. This is known as estrogen dominance,

and it can bring on a slew of symptoms, including weight gain.

Estrogen is made by a woman’s ovaries, the adrenal glands, and even fat cells. The

more excess fat you carry, the higher your estrogen levels will be. This can create a

vicious cycle that can make it tough to lose weight.

How to test:

You can test your estrogen levels through urine or saliva samples. In the functional medicine world, the DUTCH test is the one that’s most commonly used.

Tips to begin addressing it:

Swap plastics for glass and stainless steel. Plastics contain chemicals like BPA, which can

disrupt hormone balance. Eat a high fibre diet. This helps your body remove excess

estrogen via your poop. Drink milk thistle or dandelion tea. Both support the liver, allowing it to detoxify excess estrogen.

LOW TESTOSTERONE

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone. It helps regulate libido, bone mass,

and plays a key role in male fertility.

But testosterone is also plays a role in fat distribution and muscle mass for men

and women . Which means, when testosterone is running low, it’s harder to build

muscle. This can slow down your metabolism, which may cause the scale to creep

up. Testosterone levels decline naturally with age. Yet there are ways to boost

testosterone production.

How to address it:

Eat a nutritious diet. Include a good balance of protein, fats, and carbs to support testosterone production.Physical exercise. Weight lifting in particular is shown to boost

testosterone levels.Get daily sun exposure.Vitamin D deficiency is linked with low testosterone levels. Reduce stress. High cortisol levels can cause testosterone to dip.

HYPOTHYROIDISM

Your thyroid is a small butterfly, shaped gland that lives in your neck. Its job is to

produce thyroid hormone, which regulates your metabolism.

But sometimes the thyroid struggles to make enough thyroid hormone. This is known

as hypothyroidism. And when the thyroid slows down, so does your metabolism.

That’s why weight gain is one of the telltale signs of hypothyroidism.

Signs of hypothyroidism

• Sensitivity to cold

• Weight gain

• Hair loss

• Feeling tired

• Sore muscles and joints

• Depression

• Slow heart rate

• Constipation

• Dry skin

• Heavy or irregular menstrual periods

  
  

How to address it:

Traditionally, hypothyroidism is treated by taking synthetic thyroid

hormone. Changing your diet may also improve thyroid function by restoring key nutrients.

Check out this article to learn more.

BLOOD SUGAR ISSUES

Glucose (aka ‘blood sugar’) is your body’s primary source of energy. When you eat carbs,

your body breaks them down into glucose. Your pancreas then secretes the hormone

insulin to help glucose get into your cells.

When you consume a high amount of sugar or carbohydrates, more insulin is released. When your body has excess insulin or blood sugar, that extra sugar is stored. Some is stored in your liver and muscles. But when those are full, that extra sugar is stored as fat.

That’s why blood sugar dysregulation often leads to weight gain.

Signs of blood sugar imbalance:

• Feeling hungry

• Dizziness

• Irritability or anxiety

• Heart palpitations

• Feeling tired or weak

• Confusion

• Shaking

• Sugar cravings

• Headaches

• Tingling in the lips

  
  

How to test:

You can check your blood sugar from home with a glucose

monitor kit. These do a simple finger prick so you can test your blood sugar any time of day.

How to address it:

In short? Maintain a steady blood sugar level as much as possible.

Please schedule an appointment with me.

This article will guide you through the process. And to learn more about balancing your blood sugar, consider following the Glucose Goddess on Instagram.

SLEEP DISTURBANCES

Not sleeping well can make it tough to lose weight. Lack of sleep can increase the

stress hormone cortisol. And as mentioned, when cortisol gets high, it can increase

your appetite and cause your body to hang onto fat.

In fact, research shows that people who sleep less than 7 hours a night have a higher

BMI and are more likely to be obese than those who get enough sleep.

Signs of poor sleep:

• Feeling unrested upon waking

• Waking up frequently throughout the night

• Having trouble falling asleep

• Feeling fatigued throughout the day

• Irritability

• Yawning frequently

• Trouble focusing

How to improve your sleep quality:

• Keep a consistent sleep schedule. Aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night.

• Avoid blue light from electronics for 2-3 hours before bed. Blue light

• exposure at night messes with your sleep-wake cycle.

• Create an ideal sleep environment. That means cool, dark, and quiet. Use

• blackout curtains or a noise machine if needed. And drop the thermostat a

• few notches before bed.

• Don’t drink caffeine in the late afternoon. Its effects can linger for up to 5

hours and may disrupt sleep.

GUT IMBALANCES

Did you know that over 10 trillion microbes live in your gut? These viruses, bacteria and

fungi make up your gut microbiome. Some of these bugs are beneficial, while others

aren’t. But when your gut is healthy, these microorganisms coexist peacefully.

But sometimes your microbiome’s balance get disrupted and the ‘bad bugs’ get out of

hand. This can happen due to poor diet, stress, antibiotic overuse, or chronic

infections. Your microbiome affects your digestion, how fat is stored in the body, and the

hunger hormone ghrelin. So when your microbiome gets out of balance, it can

impact your weight.

Signs of Gut Imbalances

• Digestive issues like constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, gas, or bloating

• Skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, and dandruff

• Mental health problems like anxiety or depression

• Trouble sleeping

• Sugar cravings

• Fatigue

How to test:

Take a stool test to assess your

microbiome’s health. Kits vary, but they typically check for bad bacteria, yeast, viruses, and parasites.

The GI-MAP test is considered the gold standard for testing your microbiome.

How to treat it:

Eat probiotic rich foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, & kim chi

Work with a holistic health practitioner to treat gut infections.