Diets and workouts, diets and workouts… but what about stress?  Yes, stress could be the reason your weight won’t budge.  Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone essential for your body’s fight-or-flight response. While cortisol is great in the short term—helping you respond quickly in stressful situations —chronic stress can keep cortisol levels elevated. This is when we start to see an impact on weight. Stress can increase your cravings, usually for sweet treats or high fat foods. Your brain, under stress, demands more glucose (sugar) to function properly so when you’re stressed, your body’s goes into survival mode. This starts the cycle of eating more, storing more fat, and becoming more fatigued.  Let’s break the stress cycle!  Less stress: Make time for activities that help you relax, like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing. Female focused nutrition: Focus on protein and minerals to keep your body happy. Eat for your cycle to help balance your hormone rhythms.  Less intensity: Exercise is great, but too much can stress your body out. Find a workout routine that suits you without pushing yourself too hard. Quality Sleep: Focus on getting good sleep each night. I just did an episode on how to master your sleep if you need ideas.  Understanding your individual needs is a game changer. This is why I love DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) testing - this includes cortisol!   Are you in survival mode and dealing with burnout? This is your sign to pay attention to the stress in your life. Listen to the episode for all the details!  Let's connect! Facebook: https://facebook.com/drbethwestie Instagram: https://instagram.com/drbethwestie If you have questions or just want to connect, shoot me a DM on instagram @drbethwestie or [email protected]