The One Hormone That Sabotages Your Weight Loss (And How to Calm It)

When people think about weight loss, they usually focus on calories, carbs, or maybe insulin. But one of the most overlooked hormones that can quietly sabotage your progress is cortisol. When cortisol is high, your body tends to hold onto fat, especially around your midsection. It also throws off your sleep, increases cravings and can make you feel wired and tired at the same time.

The tricky part is you don’t even have to feel stressed for your cortisol to spike. Things like skipping meals, not sleeping enough, overtraining, or even living on caffeine can keep your levels elevated. That’s why some people feel like they’re doing “everything right” but still not seeing results.

What actually helps? Prioritizing real meals that include protein and healthy fat. Protecting your sleep like it’s non-negotiable. Getting outside for short daily walks. And using simple nervous system resets like breathwork or hot showers to calm your body down. You can be in a calorie deficit and still struggle to lose weight if your body is constantly under stress. At Lifefire™, we don’t just look at what you’re eating, we look at how your body is responding to the entire environment around it.

Talk soon,
Katie from Lifefire™