#106: Why Fatigue, Hormones, and Your Core Are More Connected Than You Think
“We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses.”
You’re eating well, trying to move when you can, maybe even taking supplements — and yet, the tiredness lingers.
Not just the “I need more sleep” kind of tired.
But the deep, dull kind that sits behind your eyes and in your bones.
That kind of fatigue that makes your limbs feel heavy and your thoughts feel slower than they used to be.
You might feel bloated even after eating healthy meals.
Your core still doesn’t feel like it “switched back on” after birth.
Some days your energy flatlines by mid-morning — and no smoothie, stretch, or power nap seems to shift it.
And the most frustrating part? You don’t know why.
If any of this sounds familiar, this blog is for you.
Because what often gets missed — even in postnatal check-ups, fitness advice, and nutrition plans — is just how interconnected your core, your hormones, and your energy really are. Especially after a C-section.
Let’s unpack what’s really going on, and why your symptoms may be your body’s quiet way of asking for a different kind of support.
You’re Not Just Tired — You’re Out of Sync
After birth (and especially after abdominal surgery), your body doesn’t just recover physically — it also undergoes a massive recalibration of your nervous system, gut, and hormonal rhythm.
The problem? Most recovery plans focus only on the surface:
Eat better.
Move more.
Rest when you can.
And yes — those things help. But they often don’t go deep enough. Because your body isn’t just “out of shape.” It’s likely stuck in a chronic state of low-grade stress — one that quietly affects everything from your digestion to your mood, to your core function.
That stress doesn’t always look like anxiety. It often looks like:
Bloated belly after small meals
Trouble falling or staying asleep, even when you’re exhausted
Feeling wired-but-tired at night
Craving sugar, carbs, or caffeine just to get through the day
Forgetting words, losing focus, feeling emotionally fragile
Struggling to build strength in your core or glutes — despite doing the “right” exercises
These aren’t personality flaws. They’re biological signals.
Your body is not lazy or broken.
It’s out of sync — especially between your gut, your hormones, and your deep core system.
How the Core, Hormones, and Gut Work Together (and Fall Apart)
One of the teachers who helped me connect the dots in my own healing journey is Paul Chek — a holistic health practitioner and educator who’s been a pioneer in integrative movement, nutrition, and nervous system healing for over 30 years.
Paul teaches that the core is far more than just your abs. It’s a system: your diaphragm, deep abdominals, pelvic floor, spinal stabilisers, fascia, and breath — all working together to keep you upright, energised, and safe.
But here’s what most mums aren’t told:
When your core function is disrupted (like during a C-section), your body doesn’t just lose strength — it loses pressure regulation.
That pressure is what supports digestion, organ mobility, and pelvic floor response. When it’s off, your gut slows down. Inflammation can creep in. Your cortisol stays high. Your oestrogen might not clear efficiently. Your blood sugar becomes harder to regulate.
All of this drains energy, worsens bloating, and creates hormonal swings that feel like mood or weight issues — but are actually rooted in core instability and nervous system overwhelm.
Now layer in stress, lack of sleep, and always putting yourself last — and it’s no wonder you feel disconnected and tired.
My Own Wake-Up Call
I know this not just from study — but from experience.
As a fitness professional, I followed all the protocols:
· The core exercises
· The breath work
· The stretching
· The rehab
And yet… I still felt off. My belly felt disconnected. My energy was tanked. I was getting back and knee pain I couldn’t explain — even though I wasn’t doing anything intense.
It wasn’t until I looked deeper — into hormonal rhythm, nervous system regulation, and gut function — that things started to shift.
My healing didn’t come from pushing harder.
It came from listening closer.
The Hidden Link No One Talks About
Your core, your gut, and your hormones are not separate silos.
They are part of one interconnected system.
Here’s what often gets missed:
Your diaphragm affects your vagus nerve (which calms your stress response and supports digestion)
Your fascia holds tension from surgery and impacts core-muscle communication
Your cortisol rhythm impacts how your body metabolises food and recovers from movement
Your gut health determines how efficiently you clear hormones — especially oestrogen
Your core pressure affects everything from reflux to bloating to back pain
So if your core still feels “off,” your belly is bloated, and your energy is inconsistent — it’s not in your head. It’s in your system.
And no amount of crunches or low-FODMAP diets will truly help unless you reconnect the whole body.
One Gentle Reset to Support the Whole System
If you’ve been operating in stress mode for months — or years — then the answer isn’t to do more.
It’s to re-regulate.
Start with this 2-minute practice to calm your nervous system, reconnect your breath, and support both your gut and core from the inside out.
The Breath & Rock Reset
Sit or lie down comfortably, with your feet supported and knees bent (or lying flat with knees propped).
Place one hand on your belly, the other on your chest.
Begin to breathe slowly through your nose, letting your belly rise first, then your chest. Exhale softly through your mouth.
As you exhale, gently rock your pelvis back and forth (posterior and anterior tilt) — just a few centimetres. Let your breath lead the movement.
Do this for 1–2 minutes, letting your body soften, your breath guide you, and your mind settle.
This small, nervous-system-informed movement helps:
Regulate your vagus nerve
Release tension in your diaphragm and pelvic floor
Reconnect breath and core sequencing
Signal to your body that it’s safe to shift out of protection mode
Over time, this kind of intentional reset can ripple out — improving digestion, calming inflammation, and restoring that grounded, energised feeling you’ve been missing.
You’re Not Lazy — You’re Tired for a Reason
If no one’s told you this yet, let me be the first:
You’re not behind.
You’re not failing.
You’re just healing in a world that often skips the most important pieces.
Your fatigue has roots. Your bloating has reasons.
And your core is not something you “lost” — it’s something that can still be rebuilt, with the right kind of care.
You don’t need another bootcamp.
You don’t need to overhaul your life.
You need small, honest steps that honour your body’s rhythm — and restore the synergy between your gut, your hormones, and your core.
That healing is possible — even years later.
And I’d love to help you begin.
Start With These 6 Principles
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start healing — not just your abs, but your whole self — I’ve created something for you.
Download your free guide: 6 Principles for Post-C-Section Recovery
Inside, I share the deeper foundations that helped me rebuild my energy, reconnect with my body, and move beyond the “just do core work” advice.
These are the things I wish someone had told me sooner — practical, honest, and designed for tired, overwhelmed mums who want real support without the pressure.
Get your free copy here.
You deserve to feel strong again — not just on the outside, but from deep within. Let’s begin.
With Love,
Karo