08/05/2026
Number 5 is most surprising…
1. I started eating breakfast.
I was never hungry in the morning and thought that was normal.
It’s not… it’s your metabolism running on stress hormones and your body bracing for threat. Eating in the morning signals safety. Your body stops holding on when it knows food is coming.
2. I stopped doing more cardio and started tracking my steps.
NEAT — non-exercise activity thermogenesis, is one of the most underrated fat loss levers there is. Taking the stairs, parking further away, not sitting for four hours straight. It all compounds. Endless cardio spikes cortisol and stalls fat loss. Consistent daily movement does the opposite.
3. I added more food to my plate.
Specifically fibre - leafy greens, non-starchy veg, LOTS of colour at every meal. My sugar cravings disappeared and I stayed full longer.
4. I added electrolytes.
Chronically under-hydrated and chronically high cortisol are a perfect storm for water retention and puffiness, adding electrolytes helped with both.
5. No notifications or scrolling for the first hour in the morning
How you start your morning programs the rest of the day, so putting your brain in ‘responsive + reactive’ mode the second you wake up spikes your cortisol and nervous system. This made the biggest difference to my mood, mindset and stress levels every single day.
What one surprised you the most? Which will you try first?
