Draining your energy – and how to fix it.
Feeling tired, wired, or stuck with stubborn weight? You’re not alone. One of the biggest roadblocks to energy and fat loss isn’t just food or workouts—it’s stress.
Stress Is Stress—No Matter Where It Comes From
Your body doesn’t know the difference between work deadlines, a toddler tantrum, lack of sleep, or a tough workout. It just registers stress.
When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, the hormone that helps you respond to threats. It’s useful in short bursts, but when cortisol stays high too long, it becomes a problem.
How High Cortisol Affects Weight and Energy
Chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels can:
- Make it harder to lose weight
- Increase cravings for sugar and salty foods
- Disrupt your sleep
- Suppress your immune system
- Draining your energy and motivation
Even if you’re eating well and exercising, high cortisol can stall your progress. You might feel like you’re doing everything right, but still feel exhausted or stuck.
When Your Stress System Burns Out
Over time, chronic stress can wear your system down. This leads to low cortisol, which brings a whole new set of problems:
- Fatigue that doesn’t go away with rest
- Brain fog and poor focus
- Constant illness or inflammation
- Feeling “tired but wired”
This is your body’s way of saying: slow down and recover.
Cortisol Isn’t Bad—It’s About Balance
Cortisol isn’t the enemy. You need it to wake up, respond to real stress, and power through workouts. But you also need it to return to baseline. Balance is the goal.
How to Reduce Stress and Regain Energy
You don’t need to overhaul your life. Start with simple strategies to lower stress and support your health:
- Say no more often
- Swap some intense workouts for Zone 2 conditioning
- Add more daily walks
- Get outside regularly
- Try breathing, journaling, or meditation
- Take an Epsom salt bath
- Prioritize sleep and recovery
These habits support cortisol balance, help you lose weight, and restore your energy.
Stress is part of life—but unmanaged stress keeps you stuck. At Strong Her, we train smart, not just hard. Managing stress is just as important as your workouts and nutrition. Ready to feel better and move forward? Start by giving your body the recovery it needs.
Want support with training, nutrition, and building better energy from the inside out?
Join the Strong Her class—a program built for women who are ready to feel strong, energized, and in control of their health again.
