7 Signs Your Hormones Have Shifted From Insulin Resistance (and Why Weight Loss Feels Impossible) If you’ve been eating clean, working out, and still can’t lose weight, your hormones may have shifted because of insulin resistance. Insulin is your fat-storage hormone. When it’s elevated too often from stress, snacking, blood sugar spikes, or poor sleep, your body literally can’t access stored fat. Here’s how it shows up: 1️⃣ You gain weight easily, especially around your midsection. Chronically h