108. Hormones, Stress & Weight Gain: How the HPATG Axis Impacts Metabolism, Fatigue & Perimenopause Symptoms
Release Date: 03/11/2025
A Little Bit Healthier | Hormone Balance, Brain Fog, Weight Loss Resistance, Inflammation, Exhaustion, Histamine
Are you feeling frustrated by fatigue, weight loss resistance, hormone imbalance, or ongoing gut issues—despite taking all the right supplements and trying every program out there? You’re not alone. After working with close to 1,000 people in my functional practice, I’ve seen the same patterns show up over and over again: supplement overload, one-size-fits-all protocols, detoxing too soon, restrictive dieting that slows your metabolism, and a lack of individualized support when it comes to hormones, gut health, and energy. In this episode, I’m sharing the most common mistakes I see in...
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Candida Overgrowth: The Hidden Factor Sabotaging Your Gut, Hormones, and Energy Are you stuck in a cycle of fatigue, brain fog, bloating, and stubborn weight gain no matter what you do? If you’re in perimenopause or struggling with digestive issues like IBS, there’s a hidden culprit you might not have considered—Candida overgrowth. It’s a common issue I see in women experiencing hormone imbalances, low energy, and weight loss resistance, and it could be quietly disrupting your gut health and metabolism. In this episode, I share how Candida can create a ripple effect throughout your...
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Ever feel crushing fatigue, stubborn belly weight, or energy crashes no matter how “clean” you eat? Let’s sort out the confusion around weight-loss resistance, hormone balance, gut health, and a metabolism that suddenly won’t cooperate—especially in perimenopause when brain fog, IBS-style bloating, and low energy can gang-up on you. Today I walk you through the hidden hormone signals that turn calories into cling-on fat (yes, even if you’re fasting, counting macros, or exercising harder) —so you can finally drop the frustration along with the extra pounds. What we cover...
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“Is Stress the Real Reason You Can’t Lose Weight or Heal Your Gut?” Are you constantly battling fatigue, weight loss resistance, hormone imbalance, or relentless brain fog—and wondering why nothing is working, even though you're doing all the “right” things? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tricia Pingel to unpack one of the most overlooked but powerful drivers of chronic symptoms: cortisol. We explore how the stress response hijacks your metabolism, messes with your hormones, disrupts your digestion, and can even trigger histamine intolerance and immune system reactivity. If...
info_outlineStruggling with fatigue, brain fog, weight loss resistance, or unpredictable digestion? It might not just be stress—it could be your hormones working against you. If you’ve ever wondered why perimenopause seems to zap your energy or why your metabolism feels sluggish despite your best efforts, this episode is for you.
In today’s episode of A Little Bit Healthier, we’re kicking off the Hormone Series by breaking down the HPA-TG Axis—your body’s command center for hormone balance. This system influences everything from stress regulation to metabolism, thyroid function, and reproductive health. Yet, most of us were never taught how it all works or what we can do to support it.
I’ll walk you through the missing links between your hormones, gut health, and energy levels—and why chronic stress might be sabotaging your thyroid and metabolism without you realizing it.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- What the HPA-TG Axis is and why it holds the key to hormone balance, metabolism, and digestion
- The surprising way stress impacts your thyroid, leading to fatigue, sluggish metabolism, and weight gain
- How high insulin levels can trigger hormone imbalances, making perimenopause symptoms worse
- The simple lifestyle shifts that can help regulate cortisol, balance blood sugar, and support digestion for better energy
When your hormones are in sync, your body thrives. When they’re out of balance, you feel exhausted, struggle to lose weight, deal with bloating, and experience mood swings that seem impossible to control.
We’ll cover why cortisol is stealing your progesterone, how insulin resistance contributes to weight gain and PCOS, and what you can do to start regaining control over your energy, metabolism, and gut health.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who needs to hear it. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review so we can reach more women ready to take back control of their health.
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This content is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet or exercise program.
This podcast is for women in perimenopause and beyond who are struggling with fatigue, brain fog, bloating, weight loss resistance, and unpredictable hormones. If you’re dealing with exhaustion, low energy, digestive discomfort, or hormone imbalances, you’ll learn how to support your metabolism, balance hormones naturally, beat IBS and bloating, and finally break through stubborn weight gain. Discover science-backed strategies to optimize digestion, improve gut health, and manage perimenopause symptoms—without restrictive diets or endless supplements. Whether it’s addressing estrogen dominance, blood sugar balance, or adrenal fatigue, this podcast gives you the tools to take control of your health and feel vibrant again. If you are enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a review or share it with a friend.
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