27/08/2026
Loads of us struggle with what people call “cortisol belly” — where stress and elevated cortisol are thought to be associated with carrying more fat around the abdomen.
Mine had been really frustrating me because I felt like I was doing all the usual things I could think of, but that stubborn layer around my middle just didn’t seem to want to shift.
At the same time, I kept coming across articles and people talking about circadian rhythms and the role they play in regulating cortisol. One thing that kept coming up was the importance of getting natural light early in the day to help support your body clock.
So, about six weeks ago, I decided to give it a go.
With the recent heatwave, I hadn’t been walking much anyway, so I combined the two and started getting up early for a 30-minute morning walk in the sunlight.
My aim was 6:30am. I should probably admit that I haven’t exactly stuck to that early timing very well! So this has definitely not been a perfectly controlled experiment.
But six weeks in, here’s the honest update...
My sleep time had been gradually slipping later over the last few years. I’d often find myself tired but wired at 11pm — exhausted, but somehow not actually ready for sleep.
That has been the biggest surprise.
I’m now genuinely starting to feel ready for bed around 10pm. I’m coming to really enjoy feeling properly sleepy at that time.
Has it fixed my stress levels? Not massively, if I’m honest. Maybe a little.
The “cortisol belly”? Down a tiny bit. Emphasis on tiny. But it’s something.
And honestly, the biggest win is that I’m enjoying it.
I come home, have a coffee, and feel upbeat and ready for the day. I like starting my morning this way, and for that reason alone, I’m going to keep going.
I’m not claiming morning walks are a magic cure for stress or belly fat. This is just my own little experiment, and I definitely haven’t done it perfectly.
But six weeks in, I’m noticing a difference, particularly with my sleep.
So… morning walks continue.
