06/01/2026
After 35, weight loss becomes about more than calories and exercise.
One of the biggest factors that gets overlooked? STRESS.
When stress stays elevated for weeks, months, or years, your body increases production of cortisol (your stress hormone).
High cortisol can:
• Increase cravings for sugar and highly processed foods
• Make it harder to regulate hunger and fullness signals
• Impact sleep quality
• Increase water retention and bloating
• Reduce energy for movement and exercise
• Encourage the body to hold onto fat, particularly around the midsection
This doesn't mean stress "breaks" your metabolism.
But it does mean that even with healthy eating and exercise, chronic stress can make progress feel much slower.
As someone (pre baby) I use to workout 5 days a week HARD with very little to no focus on relaxation. Now at age 35 (almost 36) I have had to totally switch my approach to restoring my energy levels and fat loss.
One simple tool I've recently incorporated is crocodile breathing.🐊
How to do it:
✓ Lie on your stomach
✓ Rest your forehead on your hands
✓ Breathe slowly through your nose
✓ Focus on expanding your belly and lower ribs into the floor
✓ Exhale slowly and completely
Just 2–5 minutes can help activate your body's relaxation response and bring your nervous system out of "fight or flight" mode.
Weight loss after 35 isn't just about eating less and moving more.
It's also about helping your body feel safe enough to let go of chronic stress.
Have you noticed stress affecting your hunger, sleep, or weight loss efforts?
Hi, I’m Vanessa Lettich. I’m a certified nutrition and fitness coach, and for the past decade I’ve worked with women in their 40s and 50s who felt completely stuck with low energy and fat loss. Follow along for more tips for women over 40 who are ready to feel strong, energized and back in control again. 💛