735: The Stress–Metabolism Connection: Why You’re Gaining Weight, Craving Sugar & Struggling with Energy

Feeling like you’re doing everything right… but still struggling with unwanted weight, cravings, and low energy?

This episode is for you. We’re unpacking why your metabolism may not be broken at all—and how a dysregulated nervous system could be the real reason your body feels stuck.

For midlife women especially, chronic stress can quietly drive insulin resistance, hormonal shifts, and that frustrating loss of resilience that seems to hit in your 40s and beyond.

So this conversation sheds light on the powerful connection between stress and your ability to create and sustain energy in your body.

You’ll walk away with an empowering perspective on how supporting your nervous system can unlock real, lasting change in your health.

Tune in here to learn how to work with your body—not against it—and start feeling like yourself again!

IN THIS EPISODE

The correlation between stress and your metabolic health

What’s really happening in your body in a stressful state

The negative impacts of stress-induced blood sugar responses

How you can experience a blood sugar spike without eating

Simple tips for calming your nervous system and stabilizing your metabolism and blood sugar levels

Movement recommendations for getting stress out of your system

How to take control of your body in my Midlife On Fire Collective

QUOTES“This is what's called a stress-induced blood sugar response, and it's completely normal in the short term, right? We are built for this…But the problem is, for most of us, this isn't happening once in a while. It's happening all the time, and over time research shows that it can lead to higher insulin levels, increased fat storage, especially in the abdomen, and more inflammation and oxidative stress in the body.”

“Your metabolism is deeply connected to your nervous system. So what can you do about this? I want to keep this real simple because this isn't about doing more, it's about doing fewer things consistently.”

“If we can start to create more safety in our bodies, it just changes everything. And we deserve that. We deserve to feel safe, because that translates into the safety of the people around us as well.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Join my Midlife on Fire Collective

https://go2.drmariza.com/midlife-on-fire/

Join my 7- Day Metabolism and Hormone Jumpstart

https://go.drmariza.com/lp/metabolism-jumpstart/

Order my latest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

https://peri-revolution.com/

Dr. Jason Fung’s book: The Hunger Code

https://www.doctorjasonfung.com/

RELATED EPISODES

729: Why Counting Calories Doesn’t Work (And What Actually Controls Hunger) with Dr. Jason Fung

730: The Metabolic Shift After 40: What’s Really Driving Weight, Energy & Mood Changes

732: The Silent Disruptor: How Chronic Stress Hijacks Perimenopause

698: Food Noise, Cravings, and Midlife Weight Gain: How to Regain Control Naturally with Sarah Kennedy