Yvette says: Start with a basic checklist. Are you sleeping 8-9 hours a night? Are you drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water throughout the day? How are your stress levels? Where are you in your menstrual cycle? What are you eating? Do you notice a difference in your energy levels when you eat certain things? The brain-gut connection. Only recently have scientists and fitness experts really started to do the research into the differences between men’s and women’s bodies. It turns out that hormones play a huge role in how our bodies respond to our environment. And since men and women have different hormonal balances, it makes sense that what works for a 220-pound man who lifts weights three days a week might not work for a 130-pound woman who goes for a run three days a week.