Day 2: Stress Physiology: Understanding Your Body's Response Systems
Title: The Stress Response: Your Body's Built-In Performance Enhancer
Introduction: Yesterday we explored what happens in your brain during intense training. Today, we're diving into how your entire body responds to stress—both in the gym and in daily life—and how understanding this response can help you harness it rather than be overwhelmed by it.
Research Highlights: Research published in the American Journal of Human Biology demonstrates that individuals who regularly engage in high-intensity exercise show more efficient hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, the body's primary stress response system (Jackson et al., 2017). This improved function translates to quicker recovery from stressors and reduced chronic inflammation.
Training hard teaches your body to bounce back faster. Regular high-intensity workouts strengthen your stress response system, helping you recover quicker and keep inflammation in check—so you’re more resilient, inside and out. 🔥💪
A study by Chrousos (2009) found that "HPA axis hyperactivity and irregular patterns of cortisol secretion are associated with depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and adverse cardiovascular effects" (p. 378). Regular training helps regulate this system, potentially protecting against these negative outcomes.
When your stress response is out of whack, everything from your mood to your heart can take a hit. Regular training helps regulate your cortisol levels—protecting your mind and body from burnout, anxiety, and more. 🧠❤️🔥
Practical Application: Learn to recognize your body's stress signals during workouts, and monitor how they change over time. Many GRL members report that sensations that once felt overwhelming—elevated heart rate, muscle fatigue, shortness of breath—eventually become familiar territory they can navigate with confidence.
References: Chrousos, G. P. (2009). Stress and disorders of the stress system. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 5(7), 374-381. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2009.106
Jackson, E. M., Dishman, R. K., La Morte, M. J., Sinclair, S. J., & Jackson, A. S. (2017). Construct validity and reliability of the chronic adrenal stress index: A new method for monitoring training strain. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(4), 1067-1074. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001693
