Many women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) struggle with PCOS belly fat and wonder why it’s so difficult to lose. The key lies in understanding how hormonal belly fat works. Unlike fat stored in other parts of the body, belly fat is hormonally active, meaning it produces and releases hormones and inflammatory chemicals that influence various processes in your body. Let’s explore how these hormonal imbalances lead to belly fat, and how working with a hormonal health coach can help you balance your hormones and reduce PCOS belly fat.

The Hormonal Activity of Belly Fat

Belly fat and hormones are closely connected. When you have belly fat, it doesn’t just sit there passively; it actively releases chemicals known as cytokines, which lead to chronic inflammation. This inflammation is one reason why losing PCOS weight can be so challenging. Additionally, belly fat releases resistin, a hormone that worsens insulin resistance, a major issue for women with PCOS.

Insulin resistance not only makes it harder to lose weight but also increases testosterone levels, which directly leads to the accumulation of more visceral fat—the fat stored deep around your organs. Visceral fat, often referred to as hormonal belly fat, is particularly harmful because it’s linked to numerous health risks and is notoriously difficult to lose.

Testosterone and Belly Fat: A Paradox

Here’s the confusing part for many women: high testosterone levels, a common problem in PCOS, can actually help you burn subcutaneous fat, which is the fat just under your skin. However, it doesn’t help you burn belly fat. In fact, high testosterone causes a shift in fat storage, pushing more fat to be stored around your organs rather than under your skin, leading to the persistent and stubborn PCOS belly fat that so many women are trying to lose.

So, while it’s true that testosterone can help burn fat, it’s unfortunately not the type of fat that women with PCOS are most concerned about. Instead, it creates a frustrating cycle where high testosterone promotes the burning of subcutaneous fat but continues to fuel the storage of visceral fat around the belly.

My Personal Experience with PCOS Belly Fat

As someone who has personally dealt with PCOS belly fat, I know how discouraging and frustrating it can be. I’ve been in the position of trying countless diets and exercise routines, only to see little to no improvement in my belly fat. This struggle often led to a lot of emotional and mental challenges, from feelings of frustration to low self-esteem. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t seem to overcome the insulin resistance and hormonal imbalance that were driving the fat storage around my belly.

It wasn’t until I began understanding the deeper connections between belly fat and hormones that I started to see real changes. Now, as a hormonal health coach, I use my experience to help other women navigate the same issues. I know firsthand how demoralising it can be to put in the work but continue to struggle with that stubborn belly fat.

How a Hormonal Health Coach Can Help

Understanding your hormones is the first step toward reducing PCOS belly fat. A health coach, can help you assess and understand how your hormones, including insulin, cortisol, and testosterone, may be contributing to your belly fat.

A health coach can help support you:

• Personalised Hormonal Assessment: assess your unique hormonal profile, looking at key factors like insulin resistance, testosterone levels, and inflammation. This will give you a better understanding of the root causes of your belly fat and how you can target them.

• Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Inflammation: Since chronic inflammation plays a significant role in hormonal belly fat, a health coach will help you to work on adopting an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress-reduction techniques.

• Managing Insulin Resistance: Improving insulin sensitivity is crucial for reducing PCOS belly fat. A health coach will help you to explore and work on dietary and lifestyle strategies to help balance your blood sugar levels and reduce the accumulation of fat around your belly.

• Holistic Approach: Beyond just diet and exercise, a health coach will also work with you to address sleep, emotional health, and stress management—all of which are essential in managing hormonal imbalances and reducing belly fat.

The Mental and Emotional Toll of PCOS Belly Fat

It’s important to recognise the emotional and mental impact that comes with struggling to lose belly fat. The frustration of doing everything right and still not seeing results can lead to feelings of helplessness, low self-esteem, and even depression. This is especially true for women with PCOS, who are already dealing with hormonal challenges that affect mood and emotional well-being.

Through my personal experience and coaching, I’ve learned that addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of PCOS is key. With the right support, it’s possible to regain control over your body and health, and I’m here to help guide you through that journey.

Finding Balance and Reducing Belly Fat

If you’ve been struggling to lose PCOS belly fat, it’s time to look at the bigger picture—your hormones. Through personalised coaching, we can work together to bring your hormones back into balance, helping you reduce belly fat and improve your overall well-being.

You don’t have to face this journey alone. As a hormonal health coach, I’m here to support you with a holistic approach that addresses your body, mind, and spirit. Let’s work together to help you understand your hormones and finally get to the root of your belly fat struggles.