Are you feeling like crap, gaining weight, and yet somehow have zero motivation to make a change?
You’re not lazy, and it’s not all in your head. What you’re experiencing is very real—and actually very common. As a functional nutritionist, I see this pattern over and over again in my practice. Weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, and digestive issues often stem from a deeper imbalance that traditional western medicine approaches often miss.
Let’s break down the less-talked-about root causes of stubborn weight gain that could be at play in your body.
Yes—hidden bacteria can actually make you gain weight, and keep the weight from coming off. Bacterium Acnes is one of the most common types of bacteria that I see with my patients. This type of bacteria isn’t just the reason behind those annoying breakouts that you may get. Bacterium acnes can actually influence your hormones, particularly IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), which is closely tied to liver and pancreatic function and blood sugar regulation.
When this bacteria is overgrown, it can mess with your insulin sensitivity and promote fat storage—especially in the midsection. Think of it as an invisible stressor that can disrupt your body’s metabolic rhythm and contribute to both acne and weight gain. Double whammy!
In addition to Bacterium Acnes, there are some other types of gut bacteria that can block your ability to use carnitine, which is a compound that helps shuttle fat into the mitochondria (your cell’s powerhouses) to be used as energy. If your body can’t access carnitine properly, you won’t be able to burn fat efficiently—even if you’re exercising and eating clean.
This is especially important for vegans and vegetarians, who often get less dietary carnitine. If you’re plant-based and struggling with low energy and weight gain, this might be a missing link.
Outside of hidden bacteria in the body, there are three main root causes that I see in almost every single one of my clients that struggle to lose weight. If you’re dealing with things like fatigue, bloating, slow metabolism, or unexplained weight gain, these are the 3 main root causes that I would do a deeper dive into.
DHEA is your body’s “youth hormone,” produced by the adrenal glands. It helps with fat metabolism, mood, and energy. Low DHEA can lead to increased abdominal fat, fatigue, and poor recovery after workouts. We often lose DHEA due to chronic stress, under-eating, or over-exercising. Do any of these sound familiar?
Yeast overgrowth, like Candida albicans, can release toxins that slow your metabolism, increase sugar cravings, and even trigger inflammation in your joints. This can result in weight gain, bloating, and brain fog. If you’ve been on antibiotics, birth control, or a high-sugar diet, you’re more likely to have this imbalance.
We often blame the thyroid or adrenals, but both are downstream from the pituitary gland—a master hormone regulator in the brain. When the pituitary is under stress (often from trauma, inflammation, or mold exposure), it disrupts signals to the thyroid and adrenal glands. The result? Low metabolism, poor stress resilience, and hormone chaos.
One reason people feel mentally stuck when they gain weight is low vasopressin, a brain chemical that impacts motivation. It often dips when progesterone is low and cortisol is high—a common hormonal trio I see in burned-out women.
When you’re in this state, you might feel like:
It’s not laziness. It’s a neurohormonal survival mode—and it just needs a holistic approach to reset.
I also get asked often why people finally start to lose weight when they detox. And the answer is really simple! Your body lets go of inflammation that was driven by toxins and toxins themselves stored in fat, preserving and protecting the fat cell.
If you’ve been spinning your wheels—eating clean, trying to exercise, but still feeling off—it’s time to stop blaming your willpower and start digging deeper because there is always a root cause. It really is best to test to see what those hidden bacterias, infections, and toxins are to then properly treat those and get rid of the root cause issue.
If any of this resonates with you and you are ready to dig deeper and start feeling your best, schedule a free 15-minute discovery call with me and let’s see what’s going on.
