“The best way to
boost your overall
metabolism is to
increase how much
muscle you have”
66 womensfitness.com.au womensfitnessaustralia @womensfitnessmag @womensfitnessau
You probs won’t be surprised to hear
that high stress levels can wreak havoc
on your body gains, given stress leads to
high cortisol. This not only increases
our cravings for sugary foods but also
promotes the release of fat and sugar into
the bloodstream, which is then deposited
as fat – particularly around your middle.
So it’s non-negotiable to slot some time
into your fitness planner to unwind and
de-stress. Hello, yoga – the almighty
powerful workout that has been proven
to be effective in lowering cortisol levels.
Or, personal trainer Josh Ward reckons
punching and kicking can zap stress – and
can get you closer towards achieving your
fit goals, too. “Kickboxing is my go-to
workout for a fast, sweaty, powerful training
session that burns oodles of fat,” he says. “It
doesn’t require any kit – you can do shadow
kickboxing from anywhere and at any time.
Plus, it builds hip strength, power and
flexibility while crushing kilojoules. Mixing
intervals of kickboxing with other moves
makes a great HIIT session, and you’ll be
sure to feel the burn in no time.”
If you’re stressed, it’s likely you’re
missing out on shut-eye – and sleep
deprivation makes you hungry. Research
in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology
shows that those who clocked just four
hours of slumber displayed increased
levels of the hunger-increasing chemical
compounds called endocannabinoids,
and exercising upped the release of this
appetite activator by half.
“You can’t see the results of hard work
without lots of rest and proper recovery,”
says trainer Helle Hammonds. “I work out
around three to five times a week. I’m also
really careful about what I eat. After all,
it’s important to question whether that
extra latte is really necessary! However,
none of this means anything if I’m not
resting enough. Sleep is important. This
is where the magic happens.” So, make
sure to schedule in those ZZZs!
WHERE ARE
YOUR RELAXATION
LEVELS AT?