Cortisol and fat gain gym stress explained: High cortisol from overtraining can lead to fat gain by increasing appetite and fat storage. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep and consider active recovery techniques like yoga or light cardio to lower cortisol levels post-workout. Did you know that just 30 minutes of walking can significantly reduce cortisol? #musclerecovery #postworkoutrecovery #soreness #doms #recoverytips