Persistent Fatigue in Women- A Silent Signal of Insulin Resistance

Fatigue, Stubborn Belly Fat & Burnout: Why So Many Women Feel “Stuck” in Their 30's, 40's & 50's

You’ve rested (or tried to).You’ve reset routines.You may even be eating “better” than ever.

And yet…You still feel exhausted.Your energy hasn’t returned.And no matter what you do, the belly fat just won’t shift.

For many women between 30 and 55, this isn’t a motivation issue or a willpower problem. It’s a physiological response to long-term stress, hormonal change, and nervous system overload.

Let’s talk about why.

“Nothing’s Wrong”… So Why Am I So Tired?

This is one of the most common things I hear from women:

“My blood tests are normal, but I don’t feel normal.”

Fatigue is now one of the leading reasons women visit their GP. It often shows up alongside:

• Brain fog

• Reduced resilience to stress

• Low motivation

• Poor sleep

• And weight gain — especially around the middle

These symptoms are frequently dismissed as “just life” or early ageing. But in reality, they’re often signs of early metabolic and hormonal strain — long before illness appears.

Why the Belly Is Often the First Place Weight Appears

That stubborn belly fat so many women struggle with in their 30s and 40s is not random.

It’s closely linked to:

• Blood sugar imbalance

• Elevated stress hormones (especially cortisol)

• Changes in estrogen during perimenopause

When the body perceives ongoing stress - emotional, physical, or mental - it prioritises survival over vitality.

Fat around the abdomen is biologically protective. Visceral fat helps the body:

• Store quick energy

• Buffer stress hormones

• Respond to perceived threat

So when you’re chronically tired, overwhelmed, or “wired but exhausted”, the body often holds onto belly fat, no matter how clean your diet is.

The Energy Problem Beneath the Fatigue

At a cellular level, fatigue is about energy production.

Inside every cell are mitochondria - tiny power stations that turn food into energy. For this to work properly:

• Sugar from food needs to enter the cell

• Insulin acts as the key that opens the door

• The mitochondria convert fuel into energy

When this process becomes inefficient, you can have:

• Plenty of fuel in the bloodstream

• But very little energy inside the cells

This is often driven by insulin resistance, where cells stop responding well to insulin.

The result?

• Low energy

• Increased fat storage (especially around the waist)

• Cravings

• Brain fog

  
  

Why This Often Coincides With Perimenopause & Burnout

Estrogen plays a huge role in how women regulate energy, blood sugar, fat storage, and stress.

During the early stages of perimenopause (which can begin in the mid-30s), estrogen becomes less predictable. At the same time, many women are:

• Carrying significant mental and emotional load

• Sleeping poorly

• Running on adrenaline

• Putting themselves last

This combination creates the perfect conditions for:

• Nervous system dysregulation

• Cortisol dominance

• Insulin resistance

• And eventual burnout

Burnout isn’t just emotional exhaustion - it’s a whole-body state where the system no longer knows how to rest.

Why “Eating Less and Exercising More” Often Backfires

When the body is stressed, depleted, or hormonally unstable, pushing harder can make things worse.

Extreme diets, intense exercise, or constant restriction can:

• Raise cortisol

• Further disrupt blood sugar

• Increase fatigue

• Encourage the body to cling to fat

This is why so many women feel stuck despite “doing everything right”.

The Missing Piece: Nutrients & Nervous System Support

Energy production depends on key nutrients such as:

• Iron

• Vitamin B12

• Magnesium

• Vitamin D

Many women are low in these due to:

• Menstrual blood loss

• Chronic stress

• Reduced nutrient density in food

• Limited sunlight

Without addressing these gaps, the body simply can’t generate sustainable energy.

How Kinesiology Can Help

Kinesiology works by listening to the body, rather than forcing change.

Using muscle response feedback, it helps identify:

• Where stress is being held

• Which systems are under strain

• Nutrient priorities unique to you

• Nervous system overload

It also offers gentle techniques to:

• Calm the stress response

• Support hormonal balance

• Improve energy flow

• Reduce the need for the body to stay in “survival mode”

When the nervous system feels safe again, energy can return and the body no longer needs to hold onto protective belly fat.