Time for Rest!

Especially if you are a first time Adventure Boot Camper, make sure you get plenty of rest this weekend. Your body is tired, especially if you’ve been in camp all 5 days.Think of boot camp as the stimulus that causes your body to make positive adaptations (changes). . . as you rest. By "rest," I'm not only referring to sleep, although that should certainly be adequate if you want to see results. I'm also referring to the pursuit of a relaxing hobby, days off from work, or sitting at home enjoying some music.

There is a crucial balance between stress and recovery, and while positive stress (exercise) properly applied can lead to the body making exceptional progress, it will only do so if there is adequate "down time."

It might be helpful to realize that there are opposing forces at work, and if the balance isn't quite right, results can be slowed. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and has been referred to as the "stress hormone." During periods of elevated stress, cortisol levels are increased. Cortisol is a catabolic hormone, which means it allows the body to cannibalize its own tissue. It does have an important purpose. The gradual breakdown of tissue allows you to continuously build new, healthy cells. Cortisol also makes certain that if the body's energy needs suddenly go up due to an extreme stress, there are plenty of amino acids floating around to be converted into glucose and used as fuel. We access those amino acids in a stress-induced state by breaking down muscle.

There are other hormones that are more geared toward enhancing positive response. Growth hormone has received much attention lately and people have come to believe it's a drug. It isn't a drug, but a human hormone that is produced by the pituitary gland and it plays a vital role in anabolism (tissue building) and protein synthesis as well as in keeping metabolic processes at optimal levels of performance.

Growth hormone production is increased when you rest, and further increased when you enter deep sleep. Without adequate rest and sleep a cortisol-dominant environment can prevent you from seeing the results you're working so hard to achieve.

Translation: Get plenty of rest, enjoy some down time and relaxation, replenish your body with wholesome food and your body will respond in a very positive way!Have an awesome weekend! Alicia, Leigh, Annie, Michelle and I look forward to seeing you on Monday, well rested, and ready to rock ‘n roll in week number 2 of Adventure Boot Camp!