⚖️ Why Can’t I Lose Weight? 10 Hidden Reasons You’re Stuck

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right—eating better, exercising more, cutting calories—but the scale won’t budge, you’re not alone.

Weight loss is about more than just calories in vs. calories out. Many people hit a wall because of hidden imbalances in hormones, metabolism, gut health, or inflammation that block their progress.

In this blog, we’ll explore 10 possible reasons you can’t lose weight, especially from a functional medicine perspective—and what you can do about it.

🔟 1. Insulin Resistance Is Keeping Fat Locked In

Insulin is your body’s fat-storage hormone. When your cells become resistant to insulin, your body:

• Stores more fat (especially belly fat)
• Struggles to use fat for fuel
• Experiences blood sugar swings and cravings

Signs you may be insulin resistant:

• Fat around the midsection
• Energy crashes after eating
• Cravings for carbs or sugar
• Skin tags or dark patches on skin

✅ Fix it with: Lower-carb, high-fiber meals; intermittent fasting; supplements like berberine or inositol (with medical guidance).

🧠 2. Cortisol and Stress Are Working Against You

Stress triggers cortisol, which can:

• Raise blood sugar
• Increase abdominal fat storage
• Cause cravings and muscle breakdown
• Disrupt sleep and hormone balance

If you're constantly in fight-or-flight mode, your body will prioritize survival over fat loss.

✅ Fix it with: Mindfulness practices, walking, adaptogens (like ashwagandha), better sleep, and blood sugar balance.

🌙 3. Poor Sleep Is Slowing Your Metabolism

Less than 7 hours of sleep per night increases:

• Hunger hormones (ghrelin)
• Cortisol levels
• Insulin resistance
• Fat storage

Even a few nights of poor sleep can derail your metabolism and increase cravings and fat storage.

✅ Fix it with: Sleep hygiene (dark, cool room), magnesium glycinate, turning off screens an hour before bed, and consistent bedtime routines.

🔄 4. Your Thyroid Is Underactive

Your thyroid regulates metabolism. If it's underactive (hypothyroidism), you may experience:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain or inability to lose
• Cold hands/feet
• Hair thinning
• Constipation

Even "normal" TSH levels don’t always mean your thyroid is optimal.

✅ Fix it with: Full thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4, reverse T3, antibodies), selenium, zinc, iodine (if appropriate), and targeted thyroid support.

🍽️ 5. You’re Eating Too Little (or Too Often)

Excessive calorie restriction can slow your metabolism, increase muscle loss, and trigger survival mechanisms that make fat loss harder.

On the flip side, eating frequently, even if it’s healthy, can keep insulin elevated, blocking fat burning.

✅ Fix it with: Smart intermittent fasting, eating protein-rich meals 2–3 times/day, and letting your insulin drop between meals.

🦠 6. Your Gut Microbiome Is Imbalanced

Your gut bacteria play a direct role in:

• Appetite regulation
• Blood sugar balance
• Inflammation
• Nutrient absorption

Dysbiosis (imbalanced gut bacteria) or leaky gut can make your body more inflamed and resistant to weight loss.

✅ Fix it with: A gut-healing protocol (glutamine, zinc carnosine, probiotics), reducing processed foods, and testing for hidden infections or candida.

🔥 7. Chronic Inflammation Is Blocking Fat Loss

When your body is inflamed, it prioritizes healing, not fat burning. Inflammation also increases cortisol and worsens insulin resistance.

Common causes include:

• Food sensitivities (gluten, dairy, etc.)
• Environmental toxins (mold, heavy metals)
• Hidden infections
• Chronic stress or poor sleep

✅ Fix it with: Anti-inflammatory diet, omega-3s, turmeric, grounding, and toxin testing if needed.

♀️ 8. Your Hormones Are Out of Balance

Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all impact:

• Where you store fat
• How hungry you feel
• How much muscle you can build
• How easily your body burns fat

Imbalances in perimenopause, menopause, or andropause can lead to:

• Belly fat
• Mood swings
• Poor sleep
• Slowed metabolism

✅ Fix it with: Hormone testing (DUTCH test, blood work), targeted supplementation, and hormone replacement therapy when appropriate.

🧪 9. You Haven’t Identified the Root Cause

Sometimes, the issue isn’t obvious. You could be dealing with:

• Toxin overload (plastics, pesticides, heavy metals)
• Mitochondrial dysfunction (low cellular energy)
• Histamine intolerance
• Nutrient deficiencies (like B12, magnesium, or vitamin D)

These can all quietly block fat loss even when your diet and exercise are perfect.

✅ Fix it with: Functional lab testing, targeted detox support, and optimizing mitochondria and nutrients.

⛔ 10. You’re Doing the Wrong Type of Exercise

Too much cardio + not enough resistance training = muscle loss + metabolic slowdown.

Overexercising can also raise cortisol and stress your system, especially if paired with low-calorie intake.

✅ Fix it with:

• 2–4 strength training sessions per week
• Walking or light movement daily
• Recovery days and adequate protein intake

🧠 Functional Medicine: A Smarter Way to Lose Weight

At Sheen Vein & Cosmetics, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter weight loss plans. We help you uncover the root causes of stubborn weight and design a plan that supports your unique biology.

Our comprehensive evaluations include:

• Hormone testing (thyroid, sex hormones, cortisol)
• Metabolic markers (insulin, glucose, A1c)
• Nutrient analysis (B12, magnesium, iron, D3)
• Gut health testing (microbiome, inflammation, infections)
• Detox and inflammation panels
• Customized food and supplement protocols

Whether you’ve tried diets, exercise programs, or weight loss medications—we help you finally understand why your body is stuck and how to move forward.

📞 Ready to Get to the Root of Your Weight Struggles?

We specialize in helping people who feel like they’ve tried everything. If you're wondering why the weight won’t come off, it’s time to dig deeper.

🌐 Visit our website to learn about our functional weight loss approach
📍 Or call us to schedule your personalized consult at Sheen Vein & Cosmetics

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