Metabolic Health & Weight Optimization

Insulin Resistance • Blood Sugar • Inflammation • Sustainable Weight Loss

Lasting weight loss isn’t just about “eating less and moving more.”

If your metabolism, hormones, mitochondria, gut, and nervous system aren’t working in harmony, your body will resist fat loss—no matter how “disciplined” you are.

At Denver Sports & Holistic Medicine, we focus on root-cause metabolic health, not crash dieting. We help you understand why your body is holding onto weight or feeling stuck, and then we design a personalized plan to restore balance, improve energy, and support natural, sustainable weight optimization.

This service is available for in-clinic and telemedicine patients nationwide.

Signs Your Metabolism Needs Support

You may benefit from a metabolic reset if you experience:

• Difficulty losing weight despite “doing everything right”

• Weight gain around the midsection

• Sugar or carb cravings

• Energy crashes, especially mid-morning or mid-afternoon

• Brain fog or low motivation

• Irregular appetite or emotional eating

• Poor sleep or nighttime waking

• Hormonal shifts (peri/menopause, thyroid issues, PCOS)

• Elevated cholesterol or triglycerides

• High fasting insulin or blood sugar

• History of yo-yo dieting or overtraining

These are often signs of insulin resistance, cortisol dysregulation, mitochondrial stress, inflammation, or hormone imbalance—not a lack of willpower.

Conditions We Commonly Support

• Insulin resistance & prediabetes

• Metabolic syndrome

• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

• PCOS & weight gain

• Perimenopausal & menopausal weight changes

• Hypothyroidism & Hashimoto’s-related weight changes

• Chronic stress & cortisol dysregulation

• Postpartum metabolic changes

• “Stubborn” weight after illness, mold, or chronic infections

• Post-diet metabolic slowdown

For more complex cases that involve multi-system illness, see:
→ Chronic Illness & Complex Case Care

Our Root-Cause Approach to Metabolic Health

We don’t force the body into short-term weight loss; we help your physiology become safe to let go of stored energy and inflammation.

Your plan may include:

• Functional lab testing

• Hormone and thyroid assessment

• Nutrition tailored to your metabolic type

• Mitochondrial support

• Nervous system regulation

• Detoxification and gut support

• Movement and recovery strategies

Learn more about our testing on:
→ Functional Lab Testing

1. Comprehensive Metabolic & Hormone Assessment

Depending on your case, we may evaluate:

• Fasting insulin, glucose, HbA1c

• Lipid panel and particle patterns

• Inflammatory markers

• Thyroid function (including antibodies)

• Sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA)

• Cortisol rhythm and stress hormones

• Micronutrient status

• Gut and microbiome health

• Mitochondrial and oxidative stress markers

For hormone-specific care, see:
→ Women’s Hormone & Reproductive Health
→ Longevity & Mitochondrial Health

2. Food as Metabolic Medicine

Instead of rigid, one-size-fits-all diets, we build a sustainable nutrition framework that works for your life and physiology.

This may include:

• Stabilizing blood sugar and insulin

• Increasing protein and healthy fats for satiety and hormone production

• Anti-inflammatory, whole-food patterns

• Timing strategies (meal timing, gentle fasting when appropriate)

• Supporting gut health and digestion

For deeper digestive work, see:
→ Gut Health & Digestive Restoration

3. Detoxification & Inflammation Reduction

Toxin load and chronic inflammation can slow metabolism, disrupt hormones, and drive fat storage—especially in the midsection.

We may support:

• Liver and bile flow

• Lymphatic drainage

• Mycotoxin and heavy metal clearance when needed

• Mitochondrial repair

• Environmental toxin reduction (plastics, pesticides, endocrine disruptors)

Learn more at:
→ Detoxification & Environmental Medicine

4. Hormones, Thyroid & Metabolic Signaling

Hormones strongly influence:

• Where you store fat

• Hunger and cravings

• How you respond to stress

• Sleep quality

• Energy and motivation

We assess and support:

• Thyroid health (including subclinical dysfunction)

• Perimenopause & menopause

• PCOS and estrogen–progesterone balance

• Cortisol and HPA axis function

• Leptin and appetite signaling

For focused hormone care, visit:
→ Women’s Hormone & Reproductive Health

5. Mitochondrial & Cellular Energy Support

If your cells can’t efficiently burn fuel, weight loss becomes difficult.

We may incorporate:

• Mitochondrial nutrients (CoQ10, carnitine, B vitamins, minerals)

• Red Light Therapy for ATP production

• Gentle movement to increase mitochondrial density

• Sleep and circadian rhythm support

To explore deeper cellular repair, see:
→ Longevity & Mitochondrial Health
→ Red Light & Photobiomodulation

6. Nervous System & Stress Regulation

Chronic stress tells the body to store energy and stay in survival mode.

We use:

• Acupuncture for HPA axis and vagus nerve support

• Breathwork and somatic tools

• PEMF-style bioenergetic therapies

• Sleep optimization strategies

Learn more at:
→ Bioenergetic & Nervous System Therapies
→ Acupuncture

7. Movement, Strength & Recovery

We meet you where you are and design movement strategies that:

• Improve insulin sensitivity

• Build lean muscle mass

• Support joint health

• Enhance mood and resilience

This may integrate rehab and performance work from:
→ Sports Medicine & Injury Recovery

Who This Program Is Ideal For

• Women and men who feel “stuck” with their weight

• Those who’ve tried multiple diets without lasting success

• Individuals with known insulin resistance, prediabetes, or metabolic syndrome

• Patients with thyroid or hormone-related weight issues

• Those recovering from chronic illness, mold, Lyme, or long COVID

• Anyone wanting to improve energy, mood, and long-term disease risk—not just the number on the scale

Metabolic Health Is About More Than Weight

Optimizing metabolism is about:

• Steadier energy

• Better sleep

• Clearer thinking

• More stable mood

• Reduced pain and inflammation

• Lower risk of diabetes, heart disease, and dementia

Weight loss then becomes a natural side effect of a healthier, more resilient body.

Ready to Work With Your Body—Not Against It?

If you’re tired of willpower-based approaches that don’t last, it may be time to support your metabolism at the root.

Begin a personalized Metabolic Health & Weight Optimization plan that honors your biology, your history, and your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions — Metabolic Health & Weight Optimization

1. Why can’t I lose weight even though I’m eating healthy and exercising?

Weight loss resistance is rarely about willpower. Metabolism is influenced by hormones, thyroid function, fasting insulin, cortisol, inflammation, toxins, mitochondrial efficiency, sleep, and nervous system regulation. When these systems are imbalanced, the body holds onto stored energy as a survival mechanism. Our root-cause approach identifies which systems need support so your body can safely shift into fat-burning mode.

2. Do you offer weight loss medications?

We do not rely on appetite suppressants or stimulant-based medications. In select cases, metabolic peptides may be considered, but only within a comprehensive plan addressing hormones, gut health, inflammation, and nutrient status. Most patients achieve meaningful progress without medications once root causes are addressed.

3. What labs do you run for metabolic health?

Depending on your symptoms, we may evaluate:

• Fasting insulin & glucose

• HbA1c

• Full thyroid panel (TSH, T4, T3, antibodies)

• Cortisol rhythm & stress hormones

• Lipoprotein profiles

• Inflammation (CRP, homocysteine)

• Hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA)

• Micronutrients & mitochondrial markers

• GI-microbiome analysis

See: → Functional Lab Testing

4. Can thyroid or hormone imbalance cause weight gain?

Absolutely. Even “normal” labs can mask thyroid underperformance, and shifts in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol directly influence metabolism, appetite, and fat storage. Optimizing hormone balance is a core part of our metabolic repair process.
Learn more: → Women’s Hormone & Reproductive Health

5. Do you put patients on strict diets?

No. We do not use extreme caloric restriction or one-size-fits-all diets. Instead, we tailor nutrition to your metabolism, insulin response, hormones, and digestive health. Our approach stabilizes blood sugar, reduces cravings, supports satiety, and restores metabolic flexibility.

6. Is this program helpful for people with perimenopausal or menopausal weight gain?

Yes. Hormonal transitions significantly affect insulin sensitivity, sleep, cortisol, thyroid function, and fat distribution—especially abdominal weight. Our approach integrates hormones, thyroid, stress, gut health, and inflammation to help your metabolism work with you again.

7. Do I have to come into the clinic?

Not necessarily. Most metabolic evaluations, follow-ups, and lab reviews can be done through telemedicine, available to patients across the United States. In-person visits in Denver are available for those who want acupuncture, red light therapy, sports medicine, or more advanced integrative treatments.

8. How long does it take to see results?

Many patients feel better within 2–4 weeks as energy, sleep, and cravings improve. Visible body composition changes typically occur over 8–12 weeks, with deeper metabolic repair continuing over several months. We focus on long-lasting results—not temporary or extreme approaches.

9. Can detoxification help with weight loss?

Yes. Toxins, mold, plastics, pesticides, and heavy metals can disrupt thyroid function, insulin signaling, mitochondrial energy production, and fat storage. Detoxification often becomes a missing link in stubborn metabolic cases.
Learn more: → Detoxification & Environmental Medicine

10. Does stress really affect weight?

Chronic stress raises cortisol, increases abdominal fat storage, disrupts sleep, and drives cravings—especially for sugar and carbohydrates. We use acupuncture, breathwork, vagus nerve therapies, and bioenergetic tools to regulate the nervous system for better metabolic outcomes.
See: → Bioenergetic & Nervous System Therapies

11. Will I need to exercise more?

Not necessarily. Many people over-exercise and actually worsen metabolic resistance. We create a balanced movement plan that supports metabolism—building muscle, reducing inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity, and avoiding burnout.
See: → Sports Medicine & Injury Recovery