Get-Fit Guy

Is all stress bad? Eustress, distress, and the truth about resilience

March 31, 2026·10 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

686. Is a "perfect existence" actually making you weak? This week, in an episode that first ran in July of 2024, Kevin debunks a viral Instagram fallacy claiming that humans, like plants, require hardship to stay rooted. While the metaphor makes for a great caption, it relies on a false equivalency that ignores how biological adaptation actually works.Kevin dives into the science of stress, exploring the foundational work of Hans Selye and Walter Cannon to explain why not all stress is created equal. You'll learn the crucial difference between eustress (the positive stress that motivates growth) and distress (the chronic stress that leads to burnout).Get-Fit Guy is a Quick and Dirty podcast, hosted by Kevin Don. Have a question for Get Fit Guy? Email: getfitguy@quickanddirtytips.com.Discover more from Get-Fit Guy!FacebookTwitterNewsletter Transcripts available on your podcast app. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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