I heard that cortisol is a bad hormone for fat storage, can this be counteracted?

Cortisol is your stress hormone. In order to have less cortisol, try to eliminate the bad stress (fear, worry, etc.). (Good stress is exercise.)

Hi Greg,

Yes, cortisol is the body's major "stress" hormone. Both physical and mental stress can cause increased cortisol levels.

Cortisol is often seen as a wholly negative hormone but it is needed to maintain blood sugar (the body's fuel) and it also helps moderate inflammation in tissues, so without cortisol, we'd be sore all the time and would never fully recovery from exercise.

So as you can see, a fine balance must be achieved by the body between testosterone (and the other anabolic hormones) and cortisol.

A good diet (including good pre- and post-workout nutrition and good protein and omega-3 intake), avoidance of overtraining, and adequate sleep will help to maintain a good balance between these two hormones. Also, as Tim says...chill out a bit and even meditate or have "relaxation time" to keep cortisol at bay further.

Cortisol actually goes up when you train hard as well as been raised when you are naturally when you're fat. I have read that when cortisol levels are high, you store fat around the abdominal region.

Vitamin C and I read you can take phosphotidylserine to help keep cortisol at bay.

Improve quality of sleep (and get b/w 7-9 hours of it).

Keep your workouts short and intense, and consume a peri-workout shake.

Avoid getting injured. Avoid negative people. Avoid fighting and arguing. Breathe.

RE- supps, I agree with Richard above: PS and vit C before sleep rock. I also suggest BCAA's during the day (esp during exercise and before sleep), and lots of fish oil.

Good advice fit peeps-

So improve sleep quality
Avoid negativity
Vit C
PS
BCAA's
Good diet
Avoid over training

Sounds good to me