Ever wonder what is happening with your body and your hormones while you’re working out?  Well probably not. But as an exercise junkie, I was pondering this the other day. So I went on a search for answers…&& wrote this story to explain.

SoOo you begin your workout all pumped and ready to go!  Endorphins are released from your pituitary gland in your brain.  This makes you feel EXCITED! ENERGETIC! EXHILARATED!  You better be happy they release because they block pain.  I used to workout with my 3 sets of 12 and be done-zo.  But thanks to my boyfriend, I now know that it is important to push yourself past the point of pain.  Do drop sets and feel the burn!  Cause muscle breakdown so it has to recover, rebuild, and restore!  So workout with a higher intensity but know that some of the pain may be blocked by endorphins. Lucky us.  The more you workout, the more growth hormones come into play.  They produce more muscle for you!  I like to think of them as the gardeners. They come in and care for your muscles (repair) and then water them so they can GROW!  Now, what happens to that fat you’ve got there?  Well estrogen plays a part in the fat burning process.  Estrogen determines whether fat or carbs will be burned for fuel.  This is why women typically burn fat more with exercise and men burn more carbs. So sorry ladies, that is why it is harder for us to eat high carbs and lose fat…but it makes for a great challenge!  Anyways, you lift and do your cardio. And then what? You leave the gym feeling great!  Why is that?  Well Serotonin is also released if you workout regularly.  It is responsible for happiness, restful sleep, energy, and clear thinking.  It is what gives you that burst of energy when you leave the gym.  And for that we thank you, serotonin.  (I am starting to sound like tosh.o) So if you have read my previous blogs, you know it is important to eat within 30 minutes after working out. Preferably a meal containing carbs and protein.  Well good news is you workout regularly, so your dopamine levels are high. This makes you not have to eat as much to feel satisfied than someone with low dopamine who doesn’t workout.  So they are lazy and in turn have to eat a lot.  But no no no, we are not lazy! So we can control our appetite more which means LEAN & SEXY bodies for us!

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