Why You Cannot Lose Weight Even When You Are Doing Everything Right
Have you ever found yourself standing in front of the mirror wondering what happened?
You are eating less than you used to. You try to make healthy choices most of the time. You skip dessert more often than not. You may even be exercising regularly. Yet every time you step on the scale, nothing changes. In some cases, the number continues to climb despite your best efforts. So frustrating.
If that sounds familiar, you are not alone.
In fact, one of the most common questions women over 40 type into Google is, “Why can’t I lose weight?”
The truth is that most women are not failing at weight loss. They are simply missing the real reason their body is holding onto the weight.
After helping women for more than 30 years, I can tell you something that may surprise you.
There is always a reason.
The challenge is finding it on your own or without someone that knows what to look for.
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My Menopause Weight Gain Story
As a holistic nutritionist, I never expected to find myself struggling with my own weight gain. Not ok!
Yet when I entered menopause and then post-menopause, I gained nearly 30 pounds. And it seemed to happen overnight.
I was so frustrated.
Not just because of how I looked (puffy and swollen), but because of how I felt.
My energy was lower. My clothes no longer fit the way they once had. My lab work was moving in the wrong direction. I found myself dealing with many of the same thoughts and emotions that my patients were bringing into my office every day.
I remember thinking, “This doesn’t make sense.”
I knew how to eat.
I understood nutrition.
I taught weight loss.
So why was this happening?
As it turns out, my body had changed and I had to figure out how to fix it.
My hormones had changed.
My metabolism had changed.
My inflammatory markers had changed.
The old rules were no longer working. This was not fair at all.
That realization started a journey that would eventually help not only me, but hundreds of women who were experiencing the exact same thing.
I decided I was going to figure it out.
And I did.
The weight came off and stayed off. My lab work improved. My energy returned. Most importantly, I learned exactly what was standing in the way of successful weight loss for so many women over 40.
The Biggest Weight Loss Myth Women Still Believe
Many women blame themselves when they cannot lose weight. Ladies, a big hug to you, and please don’t.
They assume they lack willpower.
They think they are eating too much.
They believe they must not be trying hard enough.
From what I see in practice, the opposite is usually true.
Most women are trying far too hard.
Some are eating less than 1,200 calories per day. Others are skipping meals, avoiding foods they enjoy, and spending hours researching the latest diet trend. They are exhausted from constantly thinking about weight loss.
Yet the scale refuses to move downward.
The reason is simple.
Weight gain is often a symptom. It is not the root cause.
Your body may be trying to tell you something important. Until that underlying issue is identified, no amount of dieting or exercise, may create the results you are looking for.
Why Weight Loss Gets Harder After 40
One of the biggest mistakes made in traditional weight loss programs is assuming every woman gains weight for the same reason.
That simply is not true.
One woman may be dealing with insulin resistance.
Another may have thyroid dysfunction.
Someone else may have elevated inflammation levels.
Another woman may have cortisol imbalance from years of chronic stress.
Yet another woman may have food intolernaces forcing her to hold onto fat in all the wrong places.
And many women have several of these issues occurring at the same time.
This is why one-size-fits-all diets often fail.
Your body is unique.
Your metabolism is unique.
Your hormone patterns are unique.
Your weight loss plan should be unique too.
The Hidden Causes of Weight Loss Resistance
Over the years, I have found several patterns that show up again and again in women who cannot lose weight.
One of the most common is insulin resistance. Blood sugar levels may appear normal, Hemoglobin A1c may be normal or slightly elevated, yet insulin levels are sky high. When this happend, your body becomes extremely efficient at storing fat while becoming less efficient at burning it for energy.
Another common issue is thyroid dysfunction. Many women are told their thyroid is normal because only a basic TSH screening test was performed. When we look deeper, we often discover imbalances that were never identified.
Inflammation is another major factor. Chronic inflammation can affect metabolism, energy production, hormone balance, appetite regulation, and fat storage. Many women are surprised to discover that inflammation is one of the biggest reasons their body refuses to cooperate.
Then there is the nasty hormone called cortisol.
If I had to choose one issue that has become increasingly common among women over 40, it would be cortisol imbalance.
Cortisol Weight Gain Is Real
Many women spend years taking care of everyone except themselves.
They are raising children, helping aging parents, managing careers, supporting spouses, volunteering, serving their communities, and somehow trying to hold everything together.
Eventually the body notices and responds inappropriately.
When your stress hormones become dysregulated, the body often shifts into survival mode.
Fat loss slows down.
Energy drops.
Sleep becomes disrupted.
Cravings increase.
Belly fat becomes more stubborn.
Many women tell me they feel exhausted but cannot sleep. They feel tired all day yet wired at night. They gain weight despite eating less than they did ten years ago.
This is not laziness.
This is biology. I call it unfair biology for women.
But, seriously, biology can be addressed once we understand what is happening and why.
The Patient Who Walked Into My Office Angry
A few months ago, a woman sat down in my office and crossed her arms.
She looked at me and said, “I am not happy being here. I don’t know you, but you seem nice enough. I just want you to get this weight off me.”
I smiled because I understood exactly how she felt.
She wasn’t angry at me.
She was frustrated.
She had tried everything.
She had spent money on programs.
She had followed diets.
She had exercised.
She was tired of hearing the same advice over and over again.
Instead of guessing, we started looking deeper.
We reviewed her history.
We evaluated her symptoms.
We performed the right testing.
And we found the right answers and the perfect plan for her.
By her second appointment, she was smiling and dropped 15 pounds.
By her third appointment, she was glowing and looked and felt 10 years younger.
The hugs were unforgettable.
Not because of the pounds she lost, although those were certainly exciting.
It was because she finally understood what had been happening inside her body all along.
For the first time in years, things made sense.
Testing, Not Guessing
One phrase I often repeat is this:
Testing, not guessing.
I am not interested in putting women on starvation diets.
I am not interested in making someone exercise two hours every day.
I am interested in finding the reason(s).
Because once you find the reason(s), everything becomes easier, including weight loss and having a healthier life.
The right testing does not have to be expensive.
It simply has to be targeted.
When we identify the roadblocks, we can create a personalized plan designed specifically for your body, your metabolism, your hormones, and your goals.
That is when real progress happens.
If I Could Do It, You Can Too
I understand how discouraging weight gain can feel.
I know what it is like to open the closet and wish your favorite clothes still fit. I know what it feels like to work hard and see little reward. I know how frustrating it can be when people tell you to simply eat less and move more.
I lived it.
The good news is that your body is not broken.
There is a reason the weight is not coming off.
There is a reason your metabolism has slowed.
There is a reason you feel stuck.
And when we find that reason, everything can change.
At 62 years old, I was able to lose the weight, improve my health, improve my lab work, and regain my confidence. If I can do it, you can too. I will show you how.
You do not need another fad diet.
You do not need another program promising quick fixes.
You need answers.
And once you have the answers, the weight loss journey often becomes much easier than you ever imagined.
Ready to Discover What Is Standing in Your Way?
If you feel like you are doing everything right and still cannot lose weight, it may be time to stop guessing and start looking deeper.
There is always a reason.
Together, we can uncover what is preventing your body from letting go of the weight and create a personalized plan designed specifically for you.
Author
Alane Wincek, ND, CNC
Founder, Nutritionally Yours Health and Wellness Center
“Testing, Not Guessing. There is Always an Answer.”