Episode Description:

In this episode of the Vegans Who Lift Podcast (Season 03, Episode 09), co-hosts John Thomas (The Bodybuilding Vegan) and Brooke Sellers (Miss Meatless Muscle) dive into a candid conversation about stress management, its impact on fitness goals, and how to better cope with life’s daily pressures. They share personal wins of the week, including John’s perfected protein jalapeño cornbread and Brooke’s love for Primal Bakery’s protein-rich bread. The hosts explore the science behind cortisol, discuss how emotional eating and poor stress management hinder progress, and highlight the importance of coping mechanisms such as breathwork, supplements, and adapting one’s lifestyle. With humor and real-life examples, they emphasize the need for balance and self-care, encouraging listeners to take actionable steps to reduce stress and optimize their fitness journey.

Key Topics Discussed:

Main Topic: Stress Management & Cortisol:
Stress’s Impact on Fitness: The co-hosts explore how unmanaged stress can severely hinder fitness goals by elevating cortisol levels, leading to emotional eating and fitness plateaus.
Personal Experiences: Brooke shares her past struggles with adrenal fatigue, revealing how overtraining and poor stress management impacted her health. John reflects on his own strategies for keeping stress at bay, particularly focusing on breathwork.
Cortisol & Bodybuilding: They break down how cortisol spikes, particularly in bodybuilding prep, affect muscle retention and fat loss, urging listeners to take a more balanced approach to training and lifestyle.
Coping Strategies: Both hosts emphasize breathwork, including the Wim Hof method, as an excellent tool to reduce stress quickly. They also recommend using adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha and maca root to manage cortisol.

Practical Tips:

Breathwork and Stress: Practical guidance on how breathing exercises can bring instant relief and help balance stress.
Supplements: John and Brooke discuss supplements such as ashwagandha, maca root, and magnesium to support stress reduction and improve recovery.
Changing Lifestyle: Recognizing and addressing toxic relationships or environments that may be contributing to stress, and how changing them can lead to better physical and mental health.
Conclusion:
Recap of the importance of finding balance, prioritizing self-care, and staying mindful of stress triggers.

Call to Action:

Send in your questions at veganswholivepodcast.com, and don’t forget to share the podcast with your friends, family, and fitness buddies. Keep lifting, stay hydrated, and thrive on your vegan journey!