Succeed At Fitness: Stress!! What can it cause, and how to reduce! :)

My day starts 06:00 every morning, and bedtime at 22:00

And I even wake up some minutes before 6! (wich means before the alarm rings)

For those of you saying it's not possible! Well it is! But it takes time to get your body into a rhythm. It can be a struggle sometimes, and not all of you have this possibility, but then I'm thinking of people having kids - you other guys - there is no excuse! With some willingness and planning you can make wonders!

And when you get there, it's good! :) Your body will thank you!

--->

Leading to the subject: STRESS!

We are not made for all the stress we are facing in "this world", a ordinary mans daily life is enough to get the body in imbalance. You hormones goes bananas, something you feel and see on your body.

Some of the hormonal changes happening in you body is an altered testosteron - cortisol ratio

(I really recommend this book for a thorough lesson about the topic "The cortisol Connection")

Where you will get an elevation of cortisol and a depression of testosterone! Something you simply dont want!

Here you can se the effects:

Of elevated Cortisol Levels:

Table from The Cortisol Connection

And low Testosterone Levels:

Table from The Cortisol Connection

So yes, why did I talk about having a rhythm? Well, it's simply because this is some of the most important (and easiest) measures you can take to reduce stress :)

Another thing you can do to reduce stress, is to

Eat like a clock watch!

- Try to eat your meals at fixed times everyday!

- This is especially important if you are on a calorie deficit (calorie deficit = stress! Your body believe you dont have access to food!)

- By eating at the same times everyday, your body "knows" when it will get it's food, and it will not be as stressed as it would in a chaotic day with no routines :)

By eating like a clock watch - you also reduce the feeling of hunger!

Difficult to eat at the same times every day? Start with your breakfast and last meal of the day, and then slowly try to build in the other meals :)

My meal preparations for the day :)

Here is my breakfast, lunch, dinner and desert :)

Only used 20 minutes in the kitchen including the dishes

(again - NO excuse to don't take care of your body)

My last two meals of the day only consist berries/fruit, oatmeal and a proteinshake - so no need to prepare ;)

Third thing you can do to reduce stress;

work out!!!

But not too little and not too much! Remember to take a deload week once in a while, and rest days when you feel you need it! (If you are one of the people who works out really hard)

Someone need a kick in the butt, while others need to be kept at bay.

You actually dont need to do the most fancy workouts if your only goal is reducing stress, then a walk for 30min to an hour 3 days a week is sufficient ;)

Finally some pictures of todays workout :) Deload day 1 - light weight, but still exercises that makes the heart pump a little extra ;)