Holistic Approaches to Insulin Resistance, PCOS, and Weight Loss with Dr. Breanne Kallonen

Overview

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brianne Callinan, a naturopathic doctor who specializes in hormones, gut health, and resistant weight loss, and founder of the Metabolic Reset Program. Dr. Callinan came to this work after giving birth to her son at 20 and being told that her debilitating fatigue, anxiety, and inability to lose weight were simply part of being a mom. Refusing to accept that answer, she discovered subclinical hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s through expanded lab testing and built a practice around helping others do the same. This conversation is a practical deep dive into insulin resistance, PCOS, thyroid health, and what actually works for sustainable weight loss.

You’ll Learn

• What subclinical hypothyroidism actually means, why it is missed when only TSH is tested, and why running antibodies can detect autoimmune thyroid activity up to ten years before TSH is affected
• What insulin resistance is, how to recognize it through symptoms like midsection weight gain, acne, hair loss, hair growth on the face, irregular periods, and skin darkening, and why it is often the root of what appears to be a thyroid or hormone problem
• The three essential blood tests to check for insulin resistance including fasting insulin, fasting glucose, and hemoglobin A1c, and why testing them together with cortisol, thyroid, vitamin D, and iron gives a much more complete picture
• A clear and fair comparison of berberine versus metformin including their similarities in blood sugar efficacy, their different side effect profiles, berberine’s added benefit of modifying the gut microbiome, and when inositol is preferred over both for women trying to conceive
• What PCOS actually is, why you do not need cysts on your ovaries to have it, and why birth control masks the problem rather than addressing the underlying blood sugar and hormonal drivers
• Why intermittent fasting can be helpful for insulin resistance but harmful when combined with high-intensity exercise, inadequate calories, or poor sleep, and what signs indicate the feeding window should be expanded
• How the Metabolic Reset Program works including the six-week removal of inflammatory foods, the strategic reduction of exercise, the reintroduction phase, and the accountability coaching on mindset and stress
• Why paying attention to the repetitive stories and thoughts you tell yourself throughout the day may be more important for your long-term health than any supplement or nutrition protocol

Resources

Connect with Dr. Breanne Kallonen:

Website- https://www.breannekallonen.com/

Be mindful of the repetitive thoughts you have throughout the day and the stories you tell yourself. So much of our chronic health struggles comes down to how we are perceiving our environment.