Our Members

STRESS: Enemy #1

Last night we had our best turnout for a Fit Plate Food Talk. The talk was a little different this time as the focus turned more toward how our food and lifestyle choices play a huge role in achieving our goals at the gym.

If you have not heard about Cortisol, it's time you learn about it. Widely referred to as the "stress hormone", Cortisol can actually make it impossible for you to put on muscle mass and lean out.

When you experience a stress event the body releases Cortisol to handle the event. Your blood pressure increases and Cortisol goes to work causing a release of glucose from your muscles and liver into the blood stream.

Unfortunately, stress events make many people reach for a "treat" to cope. It's quite likely the "treat" will be sweet and cause in insulin response.

Guess what... the glucose released by the cortisol secretion also caused an insulin response!

Now you have excess insulin coursing through your blood stream -- let the fat storage begin!!

ALSO...
While you are lifting and working out like a rabid pit bull (to pay for some insulin response inducing food choice during your work day--ie: someone had a birthday and you HAD to eat cake) you are breaking down muscle... that's ok, that's what working out does! The next step is eating and bed -- so the muscle can repair. BUT instead... you go out and have some post-WOD drinks and now you're stressing your body again!! MORE CORTISOL, please. Oh, and the post WOD drink will likely cause a dump of more insulin....

Do you see where we're headed?

NOTE: The advice I'm about to give has been offered to me and ignored in my past. Not until my body MADE me slow down, did i really understand the importance of this...

If you are sick or injured--be good to your body and let it heal.
If you are not physically ready for a workout you should listen to your body and let it rest. I'm not suggesting parking on the sofa, but I'm suggesting you not do Fran!

You cannot train away a bad meal or night of drinking.
Dragging your hungover body into the gym and (attempting) to go balls out will not do your body any good. Finishing the WOD and heading out for a run will not attone for the two brownies or donuts you ate at work.

Fit Pit'ers!
Please understand that I'm not standing in judgement. It's your body and if you'd like to beat it up and see how much it can take... go ahead. But please do not stand before me, mystiphied as to why you cannot see your abs or pack on some muscle. While I was in my endurance junkie phase my dad told me, "Ya know. The most important part of training happens at the table and in bed... not while exercising." Of course, I thought he was acting old and just trying to get me to stop working out all the time. Turns out he was right... today my dad is 80 years old and has a better looking push up than 1/3 of our gym. For as long as I can remember he has gone to bed by 10pm and woke at 5:30am. Aside from coffee... he has no addictions and avoids sweets.

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Calendar

May 18-19-20 - Fit Pit THROWDOWN

April 14th - Rock the Parkway

Our Members

STRESS: Enemy #1