There’s a type of stress that actually makes you stronger

WE HATE to break it to you, but if you want to be able to lift more, run faster or get over a weight plateau then you need to stress your body. In a good way.

Bachelor Tim Robards

OUR bodies are truly amazing. We have the incredible ability to adapt to our environment and to stressors, and when we do we have a beneficial adaptation that makes us stronger.

But stress your body too much and it will fail. Take lifting weights for an example. We place a large piece of metal in our hands and curl or squat away till it burns and we cannot possibly do any more. The body will have a beneficial adaptation to this stress and grow stronger, as well as more visually appealing (we all hope).

If we do yoga we become more flexible and increase our mobility and ability to navigate and play in our environment.

But if our ego comes into it we load up the bar too much or go for a one arm handstand when we are not ready, gravity wins. There’s a fine line between stressors being a benefit and a hindrance, and you winding up in your chiropractors office with your head not screwed on straight.

Lets look at how we can make the stress adaptation process to work for us and kick your body into the best it has ever looked and felt, using some of the latest research and simple common sense that is sometimes lost in the business of gym memberships and seven minute ab videos.

We’ll start with the first step!

Avoid exercises adaptations

Do not just go through the motions, doing the same reps and weight every time. Your body is smart, smarter than you think! It can adapt very quickly to old school training methods. This ‘adaptive response’ can be your greatest fat burning and muscle building enemy unless you know how to overcome it.

Do not become comfortable in your rep range or maintaining a constant heart rate. You need to be pushing your body to the next level every time. But, you need to be smart about this because that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be building up as much lactic acid as you can so you spew.

Unless you are training for an endurance event, lactic acid burn is not your primary goal. Too many PT’s gets too much satisfaction from seeing their clients grimace with ‘the deep burn’. This can actually limit the strength and growth adaptations of strength training.

Take a four week gym ‘dating’ challenge

Another great way to learn some new skills, re-energise, and make more friends than you know what to do with is to ‘date’ a different gym or fitness modality each week for four weeks. An example of this is to hit up some power yoga for one whole week, next week go to an outdoor bootcamp, the next week try some crossfit and then for the final week maybe take up pole dancing for fitness. These are just examples of a month that will challenge you, excite you and keep you guessing!

Getting to the healthiest and most vibrant version of yourself starts with getting your mindset right first. Your body will not change unless you stress it (beneficial stress) and force it to adapt to the environment and daily activities you put it through. If you’re stuck on a plateau, ask yourself: Am I really forcing my body to adapt?

The question that will get you through it then is: What will this adaptation bring me and allow me to do? For some it is longevity, greater sports performance, a cuter girlfriend or more self esteem.

Be the best you can be and make the most of your time on this earth with the vehicle you’re been given!

Dr Tim Robards is a Chiropractor and exercise scientist (B. Med. Sc, M. Chiro) and regular news.com.au columnist. His observations and research into what people really need live a healthy life and thrive in their environment has lead him to develop The Robards Method. You can follow Tim on Instagram and Twitter.