In the past year alone, Welltech identified over 474K searches for stress management, and there currently seems to be a disconnect between mental health and its impact on physical performance.<\/p>\n
You may like<\/p>\n
David J. Sautter, a personal trainer and performance specialist who works with Welltech, discusses how stress might disrupt your recovery, increase cortisol levels and affect overall exercise results. Here\u2019s what he (and the research) had to say.<\/p>\n
David J. Sautter<\/p>\n
NASM personal trainer <\/p>\n
David is a NASM-certified personal trainer and Performance Enhancement Specialist. <\/p>\n
What is the research?<\/p>\n
Welltech’s raw data suggests that over 869K online searches had been made between 2024 and 2025 for topics like: \u201cWhy am I not losing weight despite exercising and eating well?\u201d<\/p>\n
Comparing the data across the 50 most populous cities in the UK, they assessed active population and search volume around frustration with exercise progress.<\/p>\n
Separately, Welltech compared UK population data with annual search volume for stress management terms. This was designed to show search interest compared to the number of active people per area.<\/p>\n
Of the 50, 12 cities were excluded from the results. From this, Welltech published an article to say that while experts don’t claim stress is the absolute cause, it is a key contributor, and we\u2019re looking down the barrel of over 400K searches for stress management in the past year alone.<\/p>\n
Does stress affect exercise performance?<\/p>\n
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(Image credit: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
Sautter explains that consistently high levels of stress elevate cortisol, one of the primary fight-or-flight hormones. Over time, this can disrupt the ability to sleep (read: Struggling to sleep after exercise? Experts recommend doing these two things<\/a>), hinder muscle repair and contribute to performance plateaus and injuries.<\/p>\n \u201cTraining isn’t just about muscles,\u201d adds Sautter. \u201cIt\u2019s about your nervous system. Pushing through a high-intensity workout when you\u2019re emotionally drained can backfire. More importantly, if you keep forcing yourself to perform workouts you don\u2019t enjoy<\/a>, then you\u2019re setting yourself up to mentally associate exercise with feeling terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n We also know that the stress hormone cortisol can contribute to fat storage, particularly around the stomach, known as “cortisol belly.” In turn, this may be associated with metabolic problems long-term, including insulin resistance. When you are stressed, you may also be more likely to eat badly, sleep less, or avoid workouts altogether.<\/p>\n One literature review<\/a> found that the majority of studies it assessed showed stress can impair physical activity efforts. It concluded that “habitually active” individuals exercise more during stressful periods, whereas those in the beginning stages exercise less. As a result, stress could impact taking up exercise, maintaining a routine, or relapsing.<\/p>\n Remember, exercise is brilliant for supporting your physical and mental health…<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n According to Sautter, low-intensity exercise can be beneficial when stress levels are high, helping to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.<\/p>\n He recommends zone 2 cardio<\/a>, yoga, swimming, Pilates, or cycling, along with breathing exercises, which are great for shifting the body away from fight-or-flight into rest-and-repair. I personally recommend these 3 breathing exercises for beginners<\/a> to help you get started.<\/p>\n Remember, exercise is brilliant for supporting your physical and mental health, and when you find a workout routine that works for you, it can help bust stress and boost mood. Physical activity releases endorphins and helps manage cortisol levels, which, in turn, can improve sleep hygiene<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sautter says that adjusting your routine to how you\u2019re feeling or your \u201ccortisol rhythm\u201d is actually a good thing, rather than just pushing through. \u201cMore training isn\u2019t the answer,\u201d he says. \u201cSmarter training with a focus on healing your nervous system is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n