Let’s start here — because if you’re feeling exhausted, flat, or just not yourself after weight loss… it might not be “just life.”
It might be your hormones waving a white flag.
I didn’t realize how off mine were until I got them checked.
I thought I was just tired.
I thought my low sex drive was stress.
I thought my brain fog, poor recovery, and “blah” mood were part of getting older.
Turns out?
It was my hormones. And once I started addressing that? Everything changed.
💥 Here are some hormone imbalance symptoms no one talks about enough:
- Low (or nonexistent) sex drive 😩
- Exhaustion even after a full night of sleep
- Weight gain or stubborn fat (especially belly or back)
- Mood swings or irritability
- Brain fog and forgetfulness
- Anxiety or depression that feels hormonal, not situational
- Dry skin or brittle hair
- Night sweats or hot flashes
- Insomnia or trouble staying asleep
- Poor recovery from workouts
- Feeling “puffy” or inflamed
- No motivation or drive
- Lack of muscle tone despite lifting
- Sluggish digestion
- Irregular periods (or none at all)
- Feeling disconnected from your body or identity
If any of this sounds familiar — you’re not crazy, lazy, or broken. Your body might be telling you something.
🧪 So what did I do?
I got my hormones checked. Bloodwork. Full panels. And I looked beyond just my thyroid.
➡️ Key hormones to check:
- Estrogen
- Progesterone
- Testosterone (yes, women need it too!)
- DHEA
- Cortisol
- Thyroid (TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, and antibodies)
- Vitamin D and iron (can impact hormone symptoms too)
🩺 Treatment options might include:
- HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) – Bioidentical or traditional
- Topical creams or patches – Common for estrogen/progesterone
- Pellets or injections – Long-lasting support (often testosterone)
- Lifestyle shifts – Sleep, stress, movement, nutrition
- Supplements – Magnesium, DIM, Vit D, Omega-3s, adaptogens
- Thyroid medication – If needed for hypo or Hashimoto’s
You don’t have to choose one path — but you do deserve to be informed.
🩺 What kind of doctor should you see?
If you’ve been told “everything looks normal” but you don’t feel normal — it might be time to find a functional medicine provider or hormone specialist. In my experience? A regular doctor often looks at whether your labs are in range. A functional doctor looks at whether your body is functioning well — and listens to your symptoms. You don’t want someone who just treats the numbers. You want someone who treats you as a whole person.
💬 Real talk?
Your goal weight doesn’t mean much if you’re dragging through your days, avoiding intimacy, and feeling like a shell of yourself. Getting strong again meant checking my hormones, getting real about what I needed, and letting go of the idea that I could “tough it out.” Strength isn’t just about muscle. It’s about advocating for your health — and that starts here.
Next in the series: Creatine — what it is, why I was scared to try it, and how it changed my body + brain.