Forward Movement Magazine Winter Issue 1 2015/2016 | Page 38

ANATOMY

FORWARD talk

adrenal glands

WHAT ARE
THEY UP TO
EXACTLY?
These glands work
interactively with the
brain, to keep your
internal systems
balanced and
regulated.

time dealing with. Let me paint a picture
for you: An avid athlete (successful fitness
competitor, bodybuilder, fitness model,
etc.) can quickly turn into an over trained
athlete! These incredibly dedicated individuals put in long, grueling hours at the
gym to perfect his or her physique, they
are following quite restrictive meal plans,
sleep typically takes a back seat; all while
juggling full time jobs, running businesses etc. Over time, that acute stress starts
to snowball out of control and it becomes
a very chronic picture. The combination
of strenuous daily exercise, less (and
poor quality) sleep, demands at work
and home life, prepping for shows and
other extracurricular activities is often a
perfect recipe for disaster and adrenal
burnout. The balancing act becomes all
too overwhelming; and the body lets you
know about it loud and clear! Insomnia, extreme fatigue, brain fog, weight
gain, anxiety, depression, high blood
pressure and food cravings are just a few
of the many signs and symptoms one’s
body may present in this self-induced
stressed state. The person’s once clean
bill of health starts to take a turn for the
worse, and one’s quality of life begins
to suffer severely. Might I also add, not
only does your body starts to “feel” the

repercussions, but your family, friends
and coworkers begin to feel and see your
burnout, too. A situation like this can be
frustrating and exhausting. Draining,
I know! Often times, individuals don’t
know what to do or how to get out of this
rut they’ve been in for so long. 
Hormonal, neurotransmitter and
thyroid imbalances are becoming
more prominent—especially among
athletes. We are not resting enough
(sleep, downtime, recovery time from
rigorous workouts) I often see clients
suffering from micronutrient deficits,
from “dieting down” and competing in
back-to-back shows (inadequate healthy
fats to create good cholesterol and hormones, Vitamin, B, D and amino acids
to make brain chemicals like dopamine
and serotonin; and assist in generating
“ATP” –Adenosine Triphosphate, and
antioxidants that help combat fatigue,
aid in methylation and pull out toxins in
the body).  All too often I see athletes
lose their desire for the sport, become
anti-exercise, start binge eating and stop
enjoying life. The sport starts to become
a chore, so to speak, an obligation if you
will… and the fun aspect is lost. This is
no way to live; and it does not have to be
the case. There is hope!
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YES there are things that you can absolutely do to help the adrenals get back on
track, but it does take EFFORT! Working
on destressing the body, adaptogenic
herbs (substances that help your body
adapt, overcome and combat stress),
self-care and other factors can greatly
help the adrenals regain balance. Addressing these components and sticking
with the protocols I have implemented
for my clients, I have seen their symptoms begin to dissipate, leaving them
looking and feeling even better! It does
take time, patience and accountability.
News flash, there are no quick fixes.
If you place value on your health and
quality of life, there are actions that can
be taken to get you feeling well again.
I understand the great emphasis and
importance placed on aesthetics in this
field, however, all bodies need times of
real rest and “off seasons” should be just
that—OFF prep, laying off heavy exercise, OFF “diet mentality” and ON track
with regaining balance. In my opinion
and experience, there is an overwhelming emphasis being placed on training,
dieting and focusing on the physical
body; and not nearly enough importance
is stressed on what to do (and how to do
it) once you’ve completed an event or
competition. Recuperating, recovery and
the psychological component are not
concentrated on nearly enough. In order
for your body to bounce back, your brain
to feel good again, and your satiety and
weight to stay in check, you must learn to
find balance, once again!! A “competitor
mentality” is great, when you are competing! Off time should be a time to take
care of you and your internal systems,
especially your adrenal glands.
So the next time a friend or family
member starts in on you about your
current health state, your rebuttal