Hormones

Week 1 is already done! How did you go? Have you checked in with your team in WhatsApp? Time to get creative with names to replace "Team A/Team B"!! Go ahead and change your WhatsApp group name when you're ready. 

Well done Team B - you acquired 14 bonus points for showing up to the pub on Sunday. Team A weren't too far behind with 8 bonus points, however a couple of missed sessions during the week sees Team B taking a very small lead. In addition to Sunday's bonus points, Team A added 52 points for their efforts during the week, and Team B added 54. If all of that is a bit confusing, here's where you stand at the end of week 1 (note Saturdays will be counted in the following week's tally):

Team A: 60

Team B: 68

A special mention to both Ian and John, who were the first to get bonus points for training at both locations AND are tied for the lead. Keep up the good work!  

We often focus on the physical aspects of exercise, such as strength, endurance and flexibility, while overlooking the significant and sometimes complex impact of hormones. Hormones are crucial for regulating bodily functions including metabolism, energy and muscle growth, all of which influence performance and recovery. Understanding how hormones influence your workouts can help you optimise your routine and achieve better results. Over the next few weeks we'll break this topic down into smaller chunks, starting with how hormones impact energy levels.

Two key hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, are central to how your body manages energy during exercise. Adrenaline (aka epinephrine) is released in response to physical activity, boosting your heart rate, increasing blood flow to muscles, and providing a surge of energy. This "fight or flight" hormone is what allows you to push through intense workouts.

Cortisol (the stress hormone) also increases in response to physical stress such as intense exercise. Cortisol breaks down muscle protein into amino acids and converts them into glucose for fuel. While short bursts of cortisol can enhance performance by providing quick energy, chronically elevated levels can lead to muscle breakdown, fat accumulation and fatigue.

While both hormones have an important role to play, managing stress through adequate rest and recovery is essential to keep their levels in check. In the spirit of this, and to combat any additional load you may be under, check out the stretching video at the bottom of the newsletter.

Keep Andy company on Saturday this week and get your team some extra points!

Here's the week that was: