Android Beta Available & The Effects of Stress on Muscle

Did you know: The Rock once ate 12 pancakes, 4 pizzas, and 21 brownies in a single sitting.

Today’s menu:

🚿 Can Stress Kill Your Gains?

🤑 Android Closed Beta Launch

🙏 Arrow VIP Giveaway

If you missed last week’s newsletter, read it here.

📋 The Front Desk

Last week, 61% of you said that you have worked out less during the holidays.

🚿 The Locker Room

Can Stress Kill Your Gains?

You're hitting your macros, crushing your workouts, but still not seeing results? Your stress levels might be the gains goblin you didn't know about.

Here's the science behind why stress is sabotaging your progress:

When you're stressed, your body pumps out cortisol (aka the stress hormone). Studies show that high cortisol literally breaks down muscle tissue. That's right - your deadline anxiety is eating your gains for breakfast.

But wait, it gets worse. Research published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that stress can reduce your strength by up to 25%. So those heavy sets you usually crush? Your stress is making them feel like you're lifting a truck.

The Recovery Killer Stress also messes with your sleep quality. Less quality sleep = less muscle recovery = smaller gains. It's basically a triple whammy of gains destruction.

Even your post-workout nutrition takes a hit. Stress can reduce protein synthesis by up to 20%, meaning that protein shake isn't working as hard as it should be.

What's the fix?

• Get 7-9 hours of sleep (your muscles grow when you snooze)

• Try meditation or deep breathing (sounds soft, works hard)

• Keep your workouts intense but brief when stressed

• Focus on recovery as much as your lifts

🔥 Gym Crush of the Week

More Gym Crushes

🤑 The Plug

Strapped for cash?

Sources say these are the best deals on the market:

• $27 Ekkovision Creatine (200 Servings)

• $34 Nutricost Pre-Workout (60 Servings)

💉 Natty or Not?

Last week, 58% of you said Damion Hu was natty.

🤖 Arrow Android Updates

We have a few spots left available for Arrow’s closed beta! Please keep in mind, you will find bugs. Let us know via Discord when you find them.

Here’s how you can become a tester:

1. Join our Discord

2. Go to #announcements

3. Read the message and use the link to become a tester

4. Report any bugs you find to a moderator

🙏 Giveaway

Sponsored by Arrow

5 people that fill out this form will get lifetime access.

The winners will get an email later this week.

If you are on Android, we will grant your access by sending you an email after launch.

Good luck!

That’s all we’ve got for today. See you next Monday.