Why Weight Loss Feels So Difficult – Even When You’re Doing “Everything Right”

Many people reach a stage in life where weight becomes confusing, exhausting, and deeply frustrating.

• They are eating less.
• They are trying to move more.
• They are following the advice they have been given by doctors, friends, magazines, and online experts.

And yet, the weight does not shift — or it shifts briefly, only to return.

This experience is far more common than people realise.

• It is not a personal failure.
• It is not a lack of discipline.
• And in most cases, it is not about willpower at all.

Weight is not just about calories

The traditional explanation for weight loss focuses on calories in versus calories out. While this model is not entirely wrong, it is incomplete, particularly for adults over the age of 35 and especially for women.

Human weight regulation is controlled by a complex interaction of systems, including:

• Hormonal signalling
• Stress physiology
• Sleep quality and circadian rhythm
• Metabolic adaptation
• Nervous system load
• Past dieting history
• Life stage, including perimenopause and menopause

When these systems are under strain, the body can actively resist weight loss, even when food intake is reduced and effort is increased.

In some cases, the body becomes protective — holding on to energy rather than releasing it — because it interprets the environment as unsafe or unpredictable.

Stress changes how the body handles weight

Chronic stress — whether emotional, psychological, or physical — has a profound effect on metabolism.

Under stress, the body prioritises survival rather than fat loss.

This can lead to:

• Increased fat storage, particularly around the abdomen
• Disrupted blood sugar regulation
• Changes in appetite and cravings
• Fatigue that reduces spontaneous movement
• Poor sleep, which further disrupts metabolic control

Importantly, stress does not need to feel dramatic to be biologically significant.

Ongoing responsibility, caregiving, relationship strain, financial pressure, work demands, or simply being “always on” can quietly keep stress hormones elevated for months or years. Over time, this alters how the body uses and stores energy.

Hormonal shifts matter — especially in mid-life

For many women, weight becomes noticeably harder to manage during perimenopause and menopause.

Changes in oestrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and insulin sensitivity influence:

• How fat is stored
• Where fat is stored
• How muscle responds to exercise
• How hunger and fullness are perceived
• How resilient the nervous system feels

This is why strategies that worked in earlier adulthood often stop working later on — and why self-criticism or extreme restriction usually makes matters worse.

Men are not immune to hormonal influences either. Age-related changes in testosterone, sleep quality, and stress load can affect body composition, motivation, libido, and energy levels.

Dieting history and metabolic adaptation

Repeated dieting, periods of restriction, or cycles of weight loss and regain can change how the body responds over time.

The metabolism may adapt by:

• Becoming more efficient (burning fewer calories at rest)
• Increasing hunger signals
• Reducing energy expenditure outside of conscious exercise

This is not weakness — it is biology doing its job.

Understanding this history is often essential before deciding what to do next.

Modern interventions: weight-loss injections and beyond

New weight-loss medications and injections have helped some people regain a sense of control, particularly where appetite regulation has been severely disrupted.

However, these interventions are not a universal solution.

They may reduce appetite and alter gut–brain signalling, but they do not automatically address:

• Stress physiology
• Emotional or habitual eating patterns
• Long-term metabolic adaptation
• Muscle loss
• What happens when the medication is paused or stopped

Many people are left with important questions:

• Is this the right approach for me?
• What are the longer-term implications?
• How do I support my body alongside or after these treatments?

These are reasonable questions that deserve calm, informed discussion rather than hype, fear, or polarised opinions.

A more intelligent and compassionate way forward

Sustainable change usually begins with understanding, not punishment.

This means:

• Looking at stress, sleep, and daily pressures
• Understanding hormonal and metabolic shifts
• Identifying what is genuinely blocking progress
• Choosing interventions that are realistic, supportive, and sustainable

For some people, weight loss is not the first goal.

Stability, energy, confidence, improved digestion, better sleep, and relief from constant self-criticism often come first — and weight change follows later as the body settles and feels safer.

About the in-person session

These themes are explored further in an in-person session, examining the real science behind weight regulation, including hormones, stress, metabolism, and modern lifestyles.

The sessions are evidence-informed, non-judgemental, and free of blame. They are designed for anyone who feels stuck, confused, or worn down by conflicting advice and wants a clearer understanding of what may be happening in their body.

Online consulting support

For those who would like personalised support, online one-to-one consulting is available.

These sessions provide space for:

• Careful listening and exploration of symptoms
• Clear explanation of what may be happening biologically
• Coaching, reassurance, and emotional support
• Practical next steps and personalised guidance
• Where appropriate, nutritional, lifestyle, and supportive product recommendations

Many people do not just want information. They want guidance, continuity, and someone to walk with them while things improve.

Online consulting allows this support to be accessible regardless of location, while remaining personal, confidential, and flexible.