Weight loss resistance.

It truly is a thing.

If you feel like you have tried this diet and that program yet still struggle with weight loss, first of all …

You are NOT alone.

This is one of the most common complaints I see in my practice. While there are many reasons that can be involved with weight loss resistance, I am sharing three of the most common roadblocks in my clinical experience.

These reasons may or may not necessarily be yours, they are posed more as questions to explore.

Remember, we are individuals so while some of our weight loss challenges may be the same as our neighbor, our sister or our best friend, they can also be quite different. This is exactly why results vary with different diets/programs. This is what can make our weight loss so confusing and frustrating.

Don’t lose hope! 🌻

These are three great questions that I would encourage you to start with. Be patient in getting the right answers.

If there is one thing I can tell you, there is no quick fix or secret sauce – like many things in life and certainly when it comes to our health (weight loss included) it takes time, patience and commitment. BUT unwinding your weight loss resistance is 100% possible and worth the journey.

THREE QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WITH WEIGHT LOSS RESISTANCE

⭐ Is it a slow thyroid?

A slow thyroid means a slower metabolism. The thyroid can often get sluggish as we age in particular. If you haven’t had your thyroid checked and you struggle with being able to lose weight, checking thyroid function can be a helpful starting point.

If you have never had a full thyroid panel, I recommend starting with that full panel. Some doctors will not order this unless you ask for it specifically. Keep in mind that a functional medicine practitioner such as myself looks at thyroid lab ranges a bit more “tightly” than the conventional lab ranges.

For more on your thyroid and which tests are included in a full panel: A Functional Medicine Approach to Thyroid Hormone Labs (rupahealth.com)

⭐ Is it unchecked stress?

Unchecked stress can translate into excess cortisol which can make losing weight seemingly impossible. While we cannot avoid stress in this world, we can support how our body handles it. Simply put, we were not designed to run 24/7 – regular periods of rest and stress support are essential.

The trick is to find something that is meaningful to you then do it – regularly!

Yoga, meditation, journaling, coloring, walks in the park, sitting outside, deep breathing, praying … these are all great examples but certainly are not all there is. Think of it this way, you are exposed to stress daily – you should also be practicing stress dumping daily!

Remember taking time to rest or play is not doing “nothing”, it is supporting our body and its ability to keep stress in check. This directly impacts our health and wellbeing, including our metabolism.

Consider testing your cortisol if you are suspect. I use the DUTCH test for this in my office. (see link below)

⭐ Is it my hormones?

From unhealthy food to environmental toxins and unchecked stress, these things all can add up and send our hormones for a ride. 

Poor estrogen clearance (too much estrogen) or excess cortisol production (as mentioned above) are two examples of hormone dysregulation that can disrupt our metabolism and make losing weight challenging.

Testing hormones can be a helpful starting point in uncovering our individual hormone status and answering the question – “is it my hormones?”

The test I use and recommend for hormones is DUTCH. The DUTCH test is a comprehensive hormone test that looks at estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, DHEA and more. It is considered the gold standard by many hormone health practitioners while also being a home test kit that you can do in the comfort of your home.

Thyroid, hormones and stress certainly are not the only factors that can contribute to weight loss resistance.

Other potential factors can be:

• chronic inflammation
• food sensitivities or allergies
• gut/microbiome imbalances
• an unhealthy sleep cycle or dysregulated circadian rhythm
• inadequate water intake

I recommend taking it in steps.

Start with the right questions then explore getting the answers to those questions. Answering these questions will likely involve some time and testing as I mentioned above.

BUT with the right testing you can get the right answers and address YOUR root cause.

Did you find this helpful? Let me know in the comments section below.

⭐ When you need help, that’s why I am here! Reach out to me or learn more about me here.

Dr. Jennifer Cardinal 
Functional Medicine – Nutrition – Health Coaching
Your hope, health & wellness resource. 

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