Positive Stress

Stress isn’t always something to be avoided. The appropriate amount of stress leads to positive adaptations. When you lift weights you stress your muscles and bones. Those tissues then receive signals that start growth processes which can lead to increased bone density and stronger muscles. When you expose yourself to cold or hot temperatures you improve your tolerance for the extremes of different climates. When you work out hard and enter a hypoxic (low oxygen state) which requires you to breathe more heavily and soak in more oxygen you can improve the health of your cardiovascular system.

Triggering these positive mechanisms is important to our physiology as humans and all too often we get too comfortable with the luxuries that modern life affords. It’s easier than ever to not be active and stay alive. Being comfortable is nice until you are exposed to uncomfortable situations and environments outside of your control. When your body has spent time being stressed whether by temperature, hunger, and physical stressors at tolerable levels your body can adapt to better handle these challenges and gain the positive health benefits associated with these activities. If our life is setup in a way that we are constantly comfortable we don’t get the benefits of lifting heavy things, walking long distances, running, pushing, pulling, etc.

I want more people to understand that it’s healthy to not always be comfortable and to keep challenging your system and learning how you can improve your tolerance to increased activities and stressors over time.

What have you done that has stressed your body today?