Hormone coach Poornima Peri recently opened up about facing a weight loss plateau despite being consistent with workouts, diet, hydration, and walking 10,000 steps daily. In an Instagram post, she wrote: “I thought I was doing everything right. 10,000 steps daily. Eating ‘healthy.’ Drinking enough water. But my weight refused to move. Instead, I felt more bloated, exhausted, and stuck.”
According to the coach, fat loss isn’t just about movement; it’s about hormonal balance and body-mind-soul alignment.
She shared what really was holding her back:
Cortisol overload from over-walking – Walking is great, but too much without proper rest can spike cortisol, keeping your body in fight-or-flight mode and making it store fat.
Imbalanced blood sugar – I was walking, but I wasn’t eating in a way that supported my insulin and hormones—leading to more cravings and fat storage.
Poor sleep, poor recovery – Walking helps movement, but hormones reset when you sleep.
“I wasn’t prioritising deep, restful sleep for true fat release,” shared Peri.
Stored emotional weight – Your body doesn’t just hold onto fat—it holds onto emotions. “Stress, trauma, and suppressed emotions were keeping my body in a survival state,” noted Peri.
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No body-mind-soul connection – “I was treating fat loss as a numbers game instead of aligning with my body’s natural rhythm. Once I worked on my hormones, mindset, and emotions, everything shifted effortlessly. Fat loss isn’t about punishing workouts — it’s about balance,” said Peri.
Here’s what you must consider (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
Taking a cue, we reached out to an expert.
Dr Kritika Bolia, consultant physiotherapist at Motherhood Hospitals, Kharadi, Pune, said many people believe that walking 10,000 steps daily and eating a balanced diet automatically lead to weight loss.
“However, factors like bloating and weight plateaus can be linked to hormonal imbalances. Even cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, can make one gain weight.The cortisol levels increase when thebody experiences stress because of inadequate sleep, excessive exercise, or emotional strain. This can lead to increased water retention, bloating, and stubborn fat accumulation around the abdomen,” said Dr Bolia.
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Another cause can be higher estrogen levels when compared to progesterone levels. According to Dr Bolia, the condition known as estrogen dominance contributes to the body holding onto water and storing more fat, making it harder to lose weight and get back in shape. “Also, digestive hormones like insulin and gut-related imbalances can slow metabolism and cause bloating even when adhering to a healthy diet,” said Dr Bolia.
According to Dr Bolia, dehydration and an improper electrolyte balance of sodium, potassium, and magnesium can lead the body to retain excess water, causing puffiness.
“It is the need of the hour for everyone to overcome this by de-stressing and seek immediate consultation for hormonal imbalance,” said Dr Bolia.
DISCLAIMER:This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
