Feeling guilty about indulging in holiday treats? Don't worry! Our bodies are more resilient than we give them credit for, thanks to the science of epigenetics and muscle plasticity.
Epigenetics refers to the way that environmental factors, such as diet and exercise, can influence gene expression. This means that the food we eat and the physical activity we do can alter the way our genes function, without changing the actual sequence of the DNA. This can have a big impact on our health, including our weight and overall wellbeing.
Muscle plasticity, on the other hand, refers to the ability of our muscles to adapt and change in response to different types of stress. When we ear more or exercise less than usual, our muscles can adapt to these changes and help us maintain balance.
So, even if you've indulged in a few extra treats this holiday season, your body has the ability to adapt and return to a state of balance through the process of epigenetics, and muscle plasticity.
A quote I sometimes use is "see your body as a balloon. When you start training, you have to blow really hard to blow up the balloon (muscle, fitness, cardiovascular health). But, life can get in the way of being able to constantly apply pressure to our balloon, and it starts to deflate.
But! (Because of epigenetics and muscular plasticity) after a prolonged period of time away from the gym, you can blow up back to where you were, as it's easier to blow up an already deflated balloon (you've changed your DNA from precious training).
This is why detrained individuals also pile on muscle quicker than those who are just starting.
So don't let guilt ruin how much you enjoyed the holiday season.
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