Can stress stop me from losing belly fat?

Nikkiey is clear that cortisol isn't the enemy. On Ep. 186 she describes it as part of your fight-or-flight response, helpful in the short term because it gives you energy to handle challenges. The problem is when stress becomes chronic and cortisol stays elevated. On Ep. 237 she lists where that stress comes from: work, relationships, lack of sleep, overtraining and under-eating. In her view, a body constantly in that mode treats fat as a survival resource and stores more of it around the midsection.

There's a behavioral side too. Nikkiey explains that elevated cortisol increases appetite and pulls you toward high-calorie, sugary, fatty comfort foods. On Ep. 30 she adds that stress can cause digestive problems and inflammation. She describes clients whose macros and workouts hadn't changed in weeks, yet their weekly check-in showed inflammation after a stressful week. If you've plateaued while doing everything right, she says, more cardio or tighter macros may not be the fix. Ask whether you're prioritizing recovery, fueling properly and caring for your mental health.

On Ep. 296, client Bea adds a useful nuance: she felt fine, but her heart rate variability showed her body was under stress during a cut. Measuring it, adding meditation, NSDR and breath work, and dropping alcohol helped her start making progress. Stress doesn't always feel like stress. If hormone changes or menopause are part of your picture, Nikkiey names them as a stressor too, and that's worth discussing with your doctor.