You’ve been going hard at the gym for months.
Hitting the treadmill, showing those dumb bells who is boss and cutting out calories by the bucketful.
But no matter how long you train, or how strict your diet is, that stubborn belly fat remains firmly in place.
But did you know that the problem may not be your diet, or your physical fitness?
Instead, it might be stress.
Yes, you read that right.
Contrary to popular belief, stress isn’t just a mental thing.
Your body and mind are connected in ways that we have always overlooked.
One side effect of chronic stress on the body is what healthcare professionals have dubbed cortisol belly.
Doctor Pranav Vyas, who specialises in Functional Medicine, explains that the reason you’re having such a hard time losing belly fat is because your body is flooded with cortisol, our body’s primary stress hormone.
In healthy doses it aids in wakefulness. Too much and it wreaks havoc on our health.
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The telltale cortisol belly, or ‘stress belly’ is just one symptom.
There’s also hair loss, bad skin, poor sleep, low fertility, and exhaustion.
These are all signs of high cortisol; or what some call ‘adrenal fatigue’.
A healthy diet and regular exercise are all important for maintaining an ideal bodyweight.
But you may be missing another key element in your weight management efforts.
Stress reduction.
In fact, exercise, especially too much exercise, coupled with a strict diet can actually make things worse in some cases.
You may end up putting your body in survival mode.
This is where it starts storing fat for emergencies. Slowing down your metabolism and immune system to fight off danger.
This also puts you at risk for infections and illnesses.
But how do you manage your stress?
People have cited meditation, supplements and of course psychiatric help.
But there has also been a recent surge of interest in a concept known as ‘regulating your nervous system’ which you may want to include in your stress management efforts.
Some ways you can do it involves what is known as ‘somatic exercises.
This where you feel your body, releasing stored tension and completing the stress cycle.
Things like emotional freedom tapping or EFT, hip stretches, dance therapy, and any other bodily movements.
These activities can help your body get out of ‘fight or flight’ mode and into ‘rest and digest’.
PART 2 – 5 proven ways to lower your cortisol levels. As someone who struggled with high cortisol levels and had a whole bunch of health issues because of it, I wish someone had taught me these things sooner because I wasted alot of my life depressed and having alot of symptoms like insomnia and hating my body. Number 1 – EFT tapping. Number 2 – Humming. Number 3 – Orienting. Number 4 – Gently place your fingers in your ears and make circle movements. Number 5 – eye gazing.
A popular method is called ‘activating the ‘vagus nerve’.
This involves massaging or stimulating certain areas of the face and neck to enter a relaxed and safe state.
Find out what works for you and be consistent.
Do these exercises every day anytime you feel yourself experiencing a stress response.
At this state, your cortisol levels drop. Allowing your body to properly metabolise your fat storage and make your weight loss efforts that much easier.
All it takes is to feel safe and at peace again in your body, and you’ll get rid of that stress belly in no time.
You’ve got this, mummies!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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