It’s no secret that exercise triggers the release of endorphins, those mood-enhancing chemicals that leave us feeling uplifted and renewed. As famously quipped in the movie Legally Blonde, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands! They just don’t.” Beyond the humor, this highlights a crucial point — physical activity can be an effective antidote to anxiety and built-up stress.
However, despite the joys of endorphin rushes, those dedicated to regular HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) might often hit a wall in their energy levels or see a plateau in fitness gains. This may resonate more with individuals grappling with anxiety, stress, or hormonal imbalances. For them, an overcommitment to intense, fast-paced HIIT sessions could be counterproductive, introducing additional stress to the body.
Finding Balance Between Exercise and Stress Hormones
To grasp this paradox, we must consider the stress hormone cortisol. High-intensity exercises excel at delivering a calorie-burning, fat-melting workout within a compact timeframe. While efficient, they can also escalate cortisol production, the stress-management hormone that dictates our ‘fight or flight’ state.
In moderation and with balanced hormones, HIIT can cause minimal cortisol spikes, leaving you energized and stable throughout the day. But if you’re battling anxiety or hormonal imbalances and engaging in frequent intense workouts, sustained high cortisol levels may occur. The consequences can disrupt your wellbeing, inciting fatigue, increased appetite, stubborn weight retention, heightened inflammation, digestive woes, and even burnout — definitely not the desired outcomes from a fitness regimen.
The Lasting Implications of Cortisol on Your Workout Routine
Shifting away from rigorous exercise a few times a week can sound counterintuitive but could prompt better overall results. When the objective is stress relief and pursuing lasting health, rebalancing your workout routine to feel invigorated during and after sessions is a strategic move.
The Bottom Line
Diverse exercise routines can benefit anyone, regardless of hormonal state or stress levels. They help dodge muscle memory and minimize injury risk. Consider integrating yoga, hiking, Pilates, or low-intensity weightlifting with HIIT days. To access a breadth of workout programs whenever and wherever, try SuperBody.app. This gym app offers virtual training sessions that accommodate your schedule and fitness needs.
Invite novelty into your fitness journey and keep your body guessing to avoid plateaus and promote continuous improvement both physically and mentally. Embrace a trial with SuperBody.app — it’s your turn to experience the convenience of fitness versatility.