In the world of exercise science, this cycle of stress and rest is often referred to as periodization. Stress—and by this we don’t mean fighting with your partner or your boss, but rather, some sort of stimulus, such as lifting a heavy weight—challenges the body, in some cases pushing it close to failure. This process is usually followed by a slight dip in function; just think about how useless your arms are after a hard weight-lifting session. But if after the stressful period you give your body time to rest and recover, it adapts and becomes stronger, allowing you to push a little harder in
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