Best Methods and Markers for Testing Hormones

Becca prefers serum and DUTCH testing; she lists key hormones to check and stresses symptom-driven interpretation.

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Episode notes

What if the reason so many women feel stuck with weight loss is not a lack of discipline, but a mix of chronic dieting, inflammation, hormone disruption, gut issues, and low hormones?

In this episode, Ben Azadi sits down with hormone and metabolism specialist Becca Chilczenkowski to unpack the real drivers behind weight loss resistance in women. Becca explains why years of under-eating can create a deeper inflammatory and immune problem, how birth control may contribute to deficiencies and hormone dysfunction, and why toxin exposure, poor diet variation, and low hormones can all make fat loss harder.

She also shares her personal story of losing her cycle, overtraining, binge eating, and looking healthy on the outside while feeling metabolically broken on the inside. This conversation goes far beyond calories in versus calories out and focuses on what the female body actually needs to heal.

Key Topics Covered

Why chronic dieting can create inflammation, oxidative stress, and deeper metabolic dysfunction
How under-eating can be harder to fix than over-eating
The connection between birth control, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, and autoimmune risk
Why low libido, low mood, and weight gain are common after long-term birth control use
How toxins and estrogen exposure can block hormone signaling and fat loss
Why air, water, and daily product exposure matter more than most people realize
How eating the same foods over and over can reduce gut diversity and stall progress
Why diet variation and metabolic flexibility matter for women
How low hormones, especially in perimenopause and menopause, can drive weight loss resistance
Why symptoms often matter more than standard lab ranges
The most useful lab markers and hormone markers to review in a functional health setting
A five-step plan for reducing inflammation, improving metabolism, and supporting fat loss
Why stress, gratitude, nervous system support, and daily habits all matter for healing

Five-Step Plan Becca Recommends

Address foundational stressors and create daily de-stressing practices such as gratitude, prayer, grounding, or time in nature.
Build awareness around nutrition by tracking food, protein, fats, carbs, and blood sugar patterns.
Get comprehensive labs done and review them through a functional lens, not just a disease-based lens.
Plan your year with intention, using periods of feeding, fasting, ketosis, training, and recovery strategically.
If you are struggling, work with a qualified practitioner who can shorten the time it takes to heal.

Resources & Links:

Becca Chilczenkowski