I tried everything. Cut carbs. Counted calories. Joined a gym. Hired a trainer. Drank green smoothies. Gave up wine. Tried yoga, meditation, even hormone-balancing supplements I found online. But nothing worked. I’d lose a couple of pounds, feel hopeful—then gain it all back within days. The belly fat wouldn’t budge. The rage, the tears, the brain fog—none of it got better. My husband said I was "always mad." My teenage daughter started avoiding me. And all the while I was working full time, managing a household, and helping care for my aging mom. No one saw how hard I was trying to keep it all together. Eventually, my doctor told me what no one else had: it wasn’t about diet or discipline. It was my hormones. Estrogen, cortisol, insulin—they were completely out of balance. And until I addressed that, weight loss would be nearly impossible.