You’re eating healthy, moving your body, cutting back on sugar, and maybe even tracking your food yet the belly bloat, puffiness, and extra weight around your middle just won’t budge. Here’s the truth: it’s not because you’re lazy, broken, or eating “too much.” Your body might actually be protecting you.

In this episode, Kylie shares three hidden reasons women in their 30s, 40s, and beyond hold on to belly fat (even when they’re doing everything “right”) and the exact habits that help your body feel safe enough to let it go naturally.

You’ll learn:

• How you can regulate your body
• How stress hormones like cortisol drive fat storage (and how to reset your levels)
• The gut–belly fat connection and how to calm inflammation
• The surprising role of insulin resistance (even with “normal” labs)
• Small, doable steps that make your body feel safe enough to release weight

Timestamps:
0:00 – Understanding Belly Fat and Its Causes 

02:19 – The Role of Stress and Cortisol

03:57 – Dysregulated Cortisol and Its Impact 

08:38 – Improving Gut Health 

10:37 – Insulin Resistance and Its Prevention

12:33 – Belly Fat as a Signal, Not a Flaw 

15:21 – Practical Steps for Improving Belly Fat 

Ready to go deeper?

Apply for 1:1 coaching → https://aproaihffa9.typeform.com/to/JkpTBEVm

Meet Kylie

Kylie Ivanir, MS, RD, is a globally recognized dietitian and founder of Within Nutrition. She helps women worldwide achieve optimal wellness by focusing on gut health, hormone balance, autoimmune healing, fertility, and sustainable weight loss. Kylie’s mission is to replace “quick fixes” with personalized, biology-aligned health strategies that truly work.

Credentials:

• B.S. in Physiological Sciences, UCLA
• M.S. in Human Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center
• Registered Dietitian, Columbia University