Hi My Name is Tabitha Let's have a serious talk.
Let me introduce myself. My Name is Tabitha I am 29 years old and I have 3 kids and a husband. I have 2 cats and 1 dog. Cool now you know a little about me, let's talk.
Can we have a serious conversation? Come here for a minute 👇🏼
As someone who has been in the fitness world for a long time , has PCOS, battled an eating disorder, and has studied nutrition and the human body, calorie in vs calorie out is not the end all be all. Yes you absolutely need a calorie deficit to lose fat, HOWEVER, if your hormones are out of wack it will cause you to not lose weight or even gain even when your eating right. If you're not sleeping properly and super stressed guess what? That messes with your body and will hinder fat lose.
I don't care what the trainers or influencers say.
You do need a calorie deficit BUT if your hormones are off, you have a metabolism issue (like PCOS), or stress is high and sleep is low that can make it a million times harder to lose fat even being in a deficit if not cause some weight gain.
I use to be one of those trainers who believed just calorie in vs calorie out. Until it happened to me. Until I fell into my binging eating and messed up my PCOS. I knew how to do it and I was in a deficit for well over 2 years didn't lose a single pound. Why? My hormones where awful. I got those in check. I started getting my cycles back. I supported my hormones and FINALLY starting losing weight by doing the same deficit I was doing BEFORE I got my stuff in check. That's when I really dove into studying and doing classes to educate myself better. And for my clients when I was a personal trainer.
Now, saying all that to say if you are not tracking your food you are more than likley over eating if your just starting out. It is wild the amount of calories that are the foods we eat. A lot of it is portion control and fast food.
A good place to start is a calorie deficit and getting a doctor to check your hormones. Its 2026 and we need to understand that the body is complex. Calories in vs calories out is not the end all be all for fat loss.
#transformation #caloriesinvscaloriesout #pcos #fatloss #pcosweightlossjourney
From my own journey and experience in fitness, battling PCOS and an eating disorder, I've learned firsthand that fat loss involves much more than just cutting calories. Many people think that as long as they eat less than they burn, they'll lose weight. But if hormones are out of balance, like with PCOS, or if stress and sleep quality are poor, weight loss can stall or even reverse despite being in a calorie deficit. One key lesson I’ve implemented is tracking food intake carefully, especially in the beginning, because it’s easy to underestimate calories and portions. Fast food and processed items can sneak in excess calories without us realizing it. Yet, even when the calories are controlled, if your hormones aren’t supported or your metabolism is affected, fat loss will be challenging. Managing stress through mindfulness or relaxation techniques and prioritizing quality sleep are critical steps that I didn’t appreciate early on. These lifestyle factors influence hormone levels like cortisol, which can interfere with fat loss. I also found that regular medical check-ups are vital for diagnosing and monitoring hormonal conditions such as PCOS. Working with healthcare professionals to balance hormones can make a huge difference. After I got my hormonal health in check, the same calorie deficit that once yielded no results finally helped me lose weight steadily. This more holistic approach—combining nutrition, hormone support, stress management, and sleep—makes the fat loss journey sustainable and healthier. If you’re struggling despite eating right and exercising, consider that your body’s complexity goes beyond calories. Embracing this comprehensive view helped me transform both my body and my relationship with food and wellness.