@xoanluiza: I thought eating 1,600 calories for longer would finally make me leaner. Instead, I’d been in a calorie deficit for too long. My lifts stalled. I was exhausted. I couldn’t push as heavy. And I felt bloated all the time. What I didn’t realise is that under-eating for months stresses your body out. When your body feels stressed: – Cortisol goes up – You retain more water – Digestion slows down So that “belly fat” I was stressing about? A lot of it was water retention and poor recovery. Now I’m eating 2,000 calories. I’m stronger. I recover better. I feel less tired. And I actually look less bloated. Sometimes fat loss isn’t about eating less. Sometimes it’s about eating enough so your body feels safe again. #glutegrowth #womensfitness #GymTok