When we exercise regularly, our bodies make important changes with hormones that help us get better at working out. Here’s a simple look at some key hormones involved:

1. Cortisol

• Role: This is often called the stress hormone. It helps manage how our bodies use energy, keeps our blood sugar in check, and helps control inflammation.
• Chronic Exercise Impact: When we exercise regularly, our resting cortisol levels can go down. This is because our bodies get better at handling stress.

2. Insulin

• Role: Insulin helps control our blood sugar levels and helps move nutrients into our muscle cells.
• Chronic Exercise Impact: With regular training, our bodies become more effective at using insulin. This means we can use energy better and have lower blood sugar levels overall.

3. Growth Hormone (GH)

• Role: GH is important for building tissue and helping muscles recover.
• Chronic Exercise Impact: Regular exercise, especially weight training, increases GH production. This helps our muscles repair and grow stronger.

4. Epinephrine and Norepinephrine

• Role: These hormones are important in "fight or flight" situations. They help increase heart rate and give us energy.
• Chronic Exercise Impact: While short bursts of exercise raise their levels quickly, regular training helps our bodies respond more efficiently over time.

Conclusion

These hormonal changes not only help us perform better but also help us recover and stay healthy. This shows how amazing our bodies are at adjusting to regular exercise.