toniconi

## You've hit the gym, prepped your meals, and counted every calorie, yet the scale refuses to budge. Frustration sets in, and you start to wonder: is there a hidden culprit sabotaging your weight loss journey? Enter cortisol, the stress hormone with a complex relationship to our body composition. **Cortisol: Friend or Foe?** Cortisol isn't inherently bad. It's a crucial player in our "fight-or-flight" response, mobilizing energy during stressful situations. But chronic stress, defined as living in a constant state of fight-or-flight, can lead to elevated cortisol levels. This, in turn, can have several effects on weight: *Increased appetite:* Cortisol triggers cravings for sugary and fatty foods, providing quick energy boosts but ultimately hindering weight loss. *Muscle breakdown:* Cortisol encourages the body to break down muscle tissue for glucose, leading to decreased metabolism and a sluggish feeling. *Fat storage:* Cortisol promotes the storage of belly fat...