We all deal with stress—but not all stress is bad. Maybe you’re balancing work deadlines, managing a family schedule, or trying to stay consistent with your workouts and meals. It adds up, especially when you're trying to maintain your body composition. But what if stress wasn’t the enemy? What if some of it could actually help you perform better in your strength training?
The key is understanding the difference between bad stress vs good stress—and learning how to manage both so you don’t burn out.
As the owner of Motivate Fitness here in Boise, I’ve seen firsthand how the right mindset around stress can help you stay strong, focused, and on track with your goals—even when life gets chaotic.
Stress is your body’s response to challenge. It’s not always a red flag—sometimes it’s a green light.
Good stress, also called eustress, is the kind that pushes you in a good way. Think of the butterflies before a race, or the focus you feel during a tough workout. It helps you grow. It sharpens performance and momentum.
Bad stress, or distress, is the kind that lingers and can derail your health and fitness efforts. It shows up when things feel out of your control—like work pressure, money worries, or relationship strain, impacting your wellness. Left unchecked, it wears you down, affecting your body composition and overall wellness. You start feeling tired, tense, maybe even stuck.
Bad stress is known as distress—and it can quietly take a toll.
It often shows up when you’re overwhelmed or stuck in your personal training regimen. You might be going through the motions, but everything feels heavier. You’re tired, irritable, maybe second-guessing yourself—consider consulting a personal trainer for guidance.
It’s not always the situation—it’s how long it sticks around and how it affects you.
Some signs of distress include poor sleep or racing thoughts, low energy or brain fog, loss of motivation or confidence, and physical symptoms like headaches or gut issues.
One of our members was absolutely crushing it. She was locked in with her workouts, hitting milestones in the gym, and staying consistent in the kitchen. Momentum in personal training was real.
Then work hit hard. Her team got downsized, and overnight she became the one holding everything together. She was trying to keep the business afloat, manage clients, and still show up for herself.
But stress started showing up in her recovery, her sleep, her mindset. Even with the best intentions, distress crept in—and her progress in personal training took a hit.
It’s a good reminder of how quickly stress can shift—and why managing it matters.
Whether it’s good or bad, stress shows up in the body. Chronic stress suppresses the immune system, making it easier to get sick and hindering your personal training progress. It impacts mental health and can trigger anxiety or depression. Recovery slows down. You might feel sore longer, have less energy, or plateau in your workouts. Even nutrition takes a hit—stress can mess with hunger signals, digestion, and decision-making.
If you’ve been training hard but feel like your results have stalled, stress might be the missing link.
You don’t need to eliminate stress—you need to learn how to work with it.
Exercise helps your brain process stress better. It boosts mood, improves focus, and supports recovery through strength training. Doesn’t need to be intense—just consistent.
Sleep is non-negotiable. This is when your body repairs, resets, and recovers. Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep to support your health and fitness goals.
Even five minutes of breathing or writing things down can help calm the nervous system and give you some clarity in your wellness journey.
Talk to someone. A coach, a certified personal trainer, a therapist. Stress feels heavier when you carry it alone.
Stress is part of life—but it doesn’t have to derail your progress. The goal isn’t to avoid stress altogether. It’s to recognize what kind you’re dealing with, and use the tools that keep you steady.
At Motivate Fitness, we help people in Boise build not just physical strength—but the kind of resilience that lasts.
If you’re feeling stretched thin, burned out, or stuck—let’s talk. We’ll help you reset, build a plan that works in your health and fitness journey, and start moving forward again.
You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through this.
If stress has knocked you off track, or you just need someone in your corner again—we’re here. Let’s build a simple plan that works with your life, not against it.
Start your journey today. Talk to a coach and let’s get after it.
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