11/10/2025
✨ Ever feel like no matter how clean you eat or how hard you train, that belly fat just won’t budge? The culprit might be your stress hormone: cortisol.
📌 What is cortisol?
It’s your body’s stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. In short bursts, it’s helpful — but when levels stay high, it messes with your metabolism, appetite, sleep, and encourages fat storage (hello, “cortisol belly”).
📈 How it leads to belly fat:
• It breaks down muscle (which slows your metabolism)
• Cranks up your appetite (especially for sugary, high-calorie foods)
• Disrupts insulin sensitivity → more fat storage
• Poor sleep = more cortisol = more cravings
🌀 Triggers that spike cortisol:
• Chronic stress
• Blood sugar swings (from skipping meals or eating lots of processed food)
• Overdoing intense workouts without rest
• Poor sleep
• Too much caffeine or alcohol
• Underlying health issues (thyroid, PCOS, adrenal dysfunction)
🛠️ 5 Hacks to tame cortisol + shrink your waistline:
1. Move smart, not hard. Daily walks, yoga, light movement + strength training 2–3x/week. Avoid overtraining.
2. Lower stress intentionally. Try meditation, reflexology, deep breathing, or simple daily rituals that calm you.
3. Prioritise sleep. Aim for 7–9 hours, keep the room cool and dark, and shut off screens early.
4. Eat mindfully. Don’t skip meals. Fill plates with protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Go slow, and ditch the processed stuff.
5. Dial back caffeine & alcohol. These can prolong cortisol spikes — especially later in the day.
💡 Bottom line:
Cortisol belly isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a real thing. But with small, intentional changes in sleep, stress, movement, and nutrition, you can help rebalance your hormones and reduce that stubborn belly fat.
❤️🔥 Tag someone who’s always battling belly fat & needs to know it’s not just about diet + cardio.
For more information 📞 Katrina on 07935 265525 or book online at www.divinehealthandwellness.co.uk.
