Cortisol 101: The Hormone That Can Make or Break Your Results
Cortisol often gets labelled the “bad” hormone — but that’s not the full story.
Cortisol is a stress hormone released by the adrenal glands and it plays an important role in energy regulation, blood sugar control, and helping the body respond to physical and mental stress. The issue isn’t cortisol itself — it’s chronically elevated cortisol.
What Cortisol Actually Does:
Cortisol helps:
Mobilise energy when the body needs it
Regulate blood sugar
Support alertness and focus
Respond to exercise and daily stress
In healthy amounts, cortisol is essential. Problems arise when levels stay elevated for long periods without adequate recovery
When Cortisol Works Against Fat Loss:
Chronically high cortisol can:
Signal the body to store fat, particularly around the midsection
Increase blood sugar and insulin output
Impair recovery and muscle repair
Mask fat loss through inflammation and water retention
Supporting Healthy Cortisol Levels
Supporting cortisol doesn’t mean avoiding stress entirely. It means balancing stress with recovery.
This includes:
Adequate calories and protein
Strategic rest days
Quality sleep
Managing training volume
Consistent routines over perfection
When cortisol is supported, the body becomes far more responsive to fat loss.
Cortisol can either support your progress or stall it — depending on how you train, eat, sleep, and recover.
Fat loss works best when the body feels safe, fuelled, and supported — not constantly under pressure.
Ready to Train and Eat in a Way That Works With Your Hormones?
At DVP Fitness, we help women lose fat by working with their body — not against it.