Recovery is individual – how does your body recover?

Imagine this: yesterday you did an intense workout, and this morning your muscles feel stiff and your energy levels are low. Your sleep was more restless, since you exercised late in the evening. Even though the workout went well, you feel anything but refreshed. Did you know that the reason might not necessarily be overexertion – but rather a message hidden in your genes, one you might not have learned to listen to yet?

According to research, several factors influence a woman’s recovery: hormonal cycle, nutrition, circadian rhythm, level of exertion – and increasingly, the role of genetic heritage is coming into focus. Genes, in other words, affect recovery in conjunction with environmental factors. Understanding your genes isn’t just interesting – it can help optimize recovery and support your overall well-being and endurance.

What does physical recovery mean?

Physical recovery refers to the body’s ability to recover from exertion. It’s not just about muscle relaxation, but a complex, multi-phase process involving the nervous system, immune system, hormonal function, and metabolism. Recovery plays a key role in how often and how effectively we can train without the risk of overtraining or injury.

Why doesn’t the body recover – even when you’re doing everything “right”?

Physical recovery is a holistic process involving the body’s tissues, immune system, and nervous system. How quickly you recover isn’t just determined by what you eat or how much you sleep – your genetic makeup also plays a role behind the scenes.

An inflammatory response can slow down recovery

Some individuals may have certain genetic variations that make them more prone to a stronger inflammatory response after exercise. This doesn’t mean your body is weak, but rather reflects its individual way of responding to stress – which may result in slower recovery or muscle soreness.

A challenging life situation can have an impact as well

Whether it’s the busy years of life or another stressful situation, it affects the entire body, including recovery. In such circumstances, it’s beneficial to pause for a moment and assess the overall load. Our bodies respond differently, and we can’t compare our endurance to others.

Hormonal cycle and genetics influence endurance

Many women recognize this: some days, workouts go smoothly, while other times they don’t. The interaction between genetics and hormonal function explains the fluctuations in energy levels and recovery. This is highly individual. For example, low estrogen levels can increase inflammation susceptibility and slow down tissue repair. On the other hand, estrogen is known to protect muscles from damage at certain stages of the cycle. This means recovery ability can vary individually, as well as throughout different phases of the menstrual cycle.

With the right knowledge, you can time your workouts to match your body’s rhythm – and avoid frustration. While genetics set the foundation, there are many ways you can influence your recovery. When you understand your strengths, you can make choices that are right for you.

Recovery is the key to well-being

When you understand your recovery capacity and learn how to support it properly, you can get more out of your workouts, prevent overtraining, and promote your overall well-being. We can’t change our genetic makeup, but understanding it allows us to make smarter choices – in daily life and in training.

Every body is unique. The genetic test we’ve developed, Women’s Balance, helps you understand how your body works – and recovers. It helps you optimize your daily energy levels. More energy, more well-being

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