Have you ever dragged yourself to the gym after a particularly stressful day and you just can't bring yourself to finish that treadmill session? It can feel impossible to get a good workout in when you're not feeling 100 percent. That's because stress has a serious effect on the body, and it can mess with your fitness in ways you might not expect.
POPSUGAR spoke to Liz Letchford, MS, ATC, EMT, personal trainer and exercise specialist, who explained that there are two kinds of stressors that affect the central nervous system. Positive stressors, like working toward a goal or completing a tough workout, have "a training effect" on the body, so you're building yourself up to get stronger and face future situations. However, negative stressors, like facing pressure-filled deadlines or dealing with toxic relationships, can stimulate your "sympathetically dominated central nervous system (fight-or-flight mode)."
"When you work out, whether it's cardio or weightlifting, your body's nervous system is being taxed," Liz said. "The more often you exercise, the easier the body is eventually able to achieve dominance by the parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system."
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