If you’re eating clean, staying active, and still watching the number on the scale rise, you’re not imagining things—and you’re not alone. For many men and women, weight gain isn’t about lack of discipline. It’s about biology, more specifically, hormones.
Hormones influence everything in your body, from hunger and fat storage to mood, sleep, and metabolism. When they’re out of balance, your body starts working against your efforts, no matter how disciplined you are. At dermaSpalogy, we believe in taking the guesswork out of weight loss.
Through precision hormone testing, customized treatment, and supportive lifestyle strategies, we help clients address the root causes of stubborn weight gain and reclaim a sense of control over their bodies.
The Key Hormones That Influence Weight
1. Insulin Resistance: The Silent Fat-Storing Signal
Insulin is the hormone that signals cells to absorb sugar from your bloodstream and use it for energy. But when insulin levels are consistently elevated, often from frequent snacking, high-carb diets, stress, or even disrupted sleep, your body starts to ignore the signal. This is called insulin resistance.
When this happens, sugar lingers in your bloodstream and gets stored as fat, specifically around the abdomen. Even with a healthy diet, insulin resistance can make it almost impossible to lose weight without addressing it directly.
2. Thyroid Hormones: The Engine of Your Metabolism
The thyroid produces hormones (T3 and T4) that help regulate your metabolic rate—essentially how efficiently your body burns calories at rest. If your thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism), everything slows down: energy, digestion, fat burning, and even brain fog can appear.
People with undiagnosed or poorly treated thyroid issues often feel cold, fatigued, and frustrated by unexplained weight gain—even when eating less than ever before.
3. Cortisol: When Stress Adds Inches
Cortisol is a survival hormone. When your body perceives stress, it releases cortisol to mobilize energy and keep you alert. But in modern life, stress is often chronic, not acute. That means cortisol stays elevated longer than intended.
Chronically high cortisol levels can increase fat storage, particularly around the midsection. It can also interfere with sleep, elevate blood sugar, and lead to intense sugar and salt cravings, especially in the evening.
4. Estrogen & Progesterone: The Menopause Connection
In women, hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause often lead to estrogen dominance or overall hormone depletion. Estrogen helps to regulate fat storage and insulin sensitivity, while progesterone plays a calming, balancing role. When these hormones shift, many women experience:
- Mood changes
- Slower metabolism
- Increased belly fat
- Difficulty sleeping
The changes can feel sudden and discouraging, but they’re very real and very manageable when approached medically.
Signs Your Hormones Might Be Out of Balance
Hormonal imbalance doesn’t always show up on a routine doctor’s visit or standard blood panel. Many clients come to us after years of being told, “Everything looks fine,” even though they don’t feel fine.
Here are some signs that your hormones may be affecting your weight:
- Unexplained weight gain, particularly around the abdomen
- Fatigue or energy crashes, even with a full night’s sleep
- Sugar cravings, especially in the afternoon or evening
- Mood fluctuations, anxiety, or irritability
- Difficulty losing weight, even with strict dieting and exercise
- Disrupted sleep, waking frequently, or feeling wired at night
You may be experiencing just one of these symptoms—or several—but together, they point to a deeper imbalance that can and should be addressed.
How dermaSpalogy Helps You Rebalance
At dermaSpalogy, we don’t guess. We test.
Our hormone balancing programs are based on the belief that your weight, mood, and energy levels are all connected. We use advanced lab testing to identify what’s really going on inside your body and then build your treatment around your results, lifestyle, and goals.
Comprehensive Hormone Panels
We assess key biomarkers such as:
- Insulin and fasting glucose
- Thyroid markers (TSH, T3, T4, reverse T3)
- Cortisol (often tested over a 24-hour cycle)
- Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels
These detailed panels help us identify patterns that standard labs often miss.
Personalized Treatment Plans
Based on your results, we may recommend:
- Targeted supplementation (e.g., magnesium, adaptogens, or specific micronutrients)
- Peptide therapy to support metabolism and appetite regulation
- Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) for eligible women and men
- Lifestyle coaching that works in sync with your hormonal needs
- Everything is designed to work with your body—not against it.
Ongoing Medical Support
Our medical team will continue to guide you throughout your journey, with frequent check-ins, lab follow-ups, and adjustments as needed. Our care is proactive, not reactive.
Complementary Strategies to Support Hormone Balance and Reduce Stress
Balancing hormones isn’t just about one solution—it’s about building daily habits that work in harmony with your body. Nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress management all play critical roles in regulating key hormones like cortisol, insulin, estrogen, and thyroid hormones. Here are a few strategies to support your efforts:
Nutrition for Hormonal Health
Your diet directly impacts blood sugar, inflammation, and hormone production. To create a nourishing foundation:
- Focus on fiber-rich whole foods such as leafy greens, berries, legumes, and whole grains to support gut health and stable blood sugar.
- Include quality proteins and healthy fats in each meal to prevent blood sugar spikes and promote satiety. Think salmon, eggs, nuts, avocado, and olive oil.
- Limit ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and alcohol, which can disrupt insulin sensitivity, elevate cortisol, and impact estrogen metabolism.
- Stay hydrated to support detoxification and cellular function—aim for at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day.
Strategic Exercise
Movement helps regulate hormones, but overdoing it—especially high-intensity cardio—can increase cortisol levels and slow progress. For a more balanced approach:
- Resistance training should be done 2–3 times per week to help improve insulin sensitivity and maintain lean muscle mass.
- Add in low-impact, restorative movement like walking, Pilates, yoga, or swimming to reduce inflammation and promote nervous system regulation.
- Cycle your intensity based on energy levels, menstrual phases, or stress load—more isn’t always better.
Prioritize Sleep for Hormone Repair
Sleep is when your body recalibrates hormones like melatonin, cortisol, leptin, and ghrelin. Chronic sleep deprivation can increase cravings, reduce insulin sensitivity, and heighten stress responses. Support restful sleep by:
- Creating a consistent sleep-wake schedule, even on weekends.
- Limiting your screen exposure for at least an hour before you go to bed to protect melatonin production.
- Using relaxation cues such as dim lighting, herbal teas (like chamomile or lemon balm), or magnesium supplements (consult a healthcare provider first).
Stress Management: The Unsung Hero of Hormone Balance
Chronic stress can throw multiple hormones out of alignment—from cortisol and thyroid hormones to estrogen and progesterone. To reduce the impact of stress:
- Practice daily breathwork, meditation, or journaling to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
- Take a few movement breaks throughout the day, especially if you sit for long periods. Even 5 minutes of stretching can reduce stress markers.
- Set boundaries around work, technology, and obligations that drain your energy or reduce your ability to rest.
- Stay connected socially—supportive relationships can buffer against stress and boost mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters like oxytocin and serotonin.
If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of frustration, it’s time to stop blaming yourself and start looking beneath the surface. Weight gain isn’t always about what you eat—it’s often about what your hormones are telling your body to do.
At dermaSpalogy, we take a science-backed, highly personalized approach to hormone health and weight management. Whether you’re navigating perimenopause, recovering from burnout, or simply ready to feel like yourself again, we’re here to help you uncover the “why ” and build a plan that works.
Ready to reclaim control?
Get tested and reclaim control with our hormone balancing program.
