Why Counting Calories Causes Weight Gain

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of dieting, obsessing over calories, or feeling guilty after eating, this is for you.I am sharing about the shift that changes everything: moving from calorie counting to hormone-focused self-care. I’ll unpack why your mood, sleep, environment, and interactions matter as much—if not more—than the numbers on a plate.1. Why Behavior Trumps CaloriesIn my Calm the Cravings and Break the Cycle masterclasses, people always ask me about hormones. While I do touch on cortisol and insulin briefly, the real shift comes when you start noticing how your choices throughout the day affect your hormones—from the food you eat to the people you spend time with, the environments you’re in, and even your sleep and mood.Instead of tracking calories, I encourage you to pay attention to how your body feels and how your emotions guide you. These are signals from your nervous system, pointing to what’s really going on above the shoulders.2. Meet Your Master Hormone: CortisolMost advice online focuses on carbs, sugar, or fat—but hardly anyone talks about cortisol, your master hormone.I explain how cortisol:Releases anytime you’re in protection modeSlows metabolism and triggers cravingsBlocks rational thinking, making it harder to resist emotional eatingAffects insulin, thyroid, estrogen, and moreChronic high cortisol can create weight gain, PMS, menopausal symptoms, water retention, and the sense that nothing you do works—even when you’re trying your best.3. Your Environment & Mindset MatterWhere you work, who you spend time with, and how you think daily influence your hormones more than diets ever could.I’ve learned that:Negative self-talk and perfectionism constantly trigger cortisolYoga, meditation, or exercise alone can’t fix your nervous system if your thoughts keep firing stress signalsThe key is regulating your nervous system and adjusting your environment4. My JourneyI got into health and fitness after chronic back pain and a car accident at 16. Exercise healed me, and I fell in love with movement. But the fitness world led me into a maze of diets—calorie counting, keto, paleo, low-fat, macros—ending in secret bingeing and guilt.The real breakthrough came when I stopped punishing myself with food and exercise and started focusing on hormone regulation, nervous system balance, and emotional awareness. That’s when lasting change happened.5. The Big TakeawayStop obsessing over food numbers.Pay attention to how your choices affect your nervous system and hormones.Listen to your cravings and emotions—they’re signals, not failures.Small shifts in your thoughts and environment can create massive changes in energy, weight, and mood.Health and weight release start above the shoulders. Once your nervous system and hormones are balanced, everything else falls into place.Book your FREE 30-minute Food Freedom Call now and start your journey to lasting change! Schedule here: https://sherryshabanfitness.com/clarity Listen to more episodes at www.makepeacewithfood.com/podcast or subscribe to me on Spotify, Podcast, and YouTube so you never miss an episode!Join my Facebook Community: www.myfoodfreedomlifestyle.com Work with me: www.sherryshaban.com/transform Go deeper: www.makepeacewithfood.com Share your biggest takeaway and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn