Literary Analysis, Body Stewardship, and Stress Management

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering literary conflict types, exercise and nutrition hierarchies, body composition norms, medical weight-loss interventions, and physiological and biblical perspectives on stress management.

Conflict

The struggle that grows out of the interplay of two opposing forces, which provides tension, creates interest in stories, and helps communicate or support a theme.

Internal Conflict

A conflict category classified as Man v. Self (or Person v. Self).

External Conflict

Struggles between a character and outside forces, consisting of Man v. Man (Person v. Person), Man v. Society (Person v. Society), Man v. Nature (Person v. Nature), Man v. Fate (Person v. Fate), and Man v. God (Person v. God).

BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)

A component of daily energy expenditure that can be increased through regular participation in resistance training.

NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis)

Energy expended through daily movement, which can be increased by choosing to be more physically active and less sedentary throughout the day.

TEF (Thermic Effect of Food)

The energy required to process food, which can be increased by eating more protein and other nutrient-dense foods.

Hierarchy of Fat Loss

A three-tiered priority framework comprising: 1) Nutrition (Gold), 2) Sleep and Stress (Silver), and 3) Exercise (Bronze).

Hierarchy of Nutrition

The ranking of nutritional factors for fat loss: 1) Calories, 2) Macronutrients, 3) Nutrient timing, and 4) Food Composition.

Hierarchy of Factors for Exercise

The prioritized exercise modalities for fat loss: 1) Strength training + endurance training, 2) Strength training in isolation, 3) High-Intensity Interval Training in isolation, and 4) Low-Intensity Steady State in isolation.

Practical Strategies for Weight Loss

A set of guidelines including setting reasonable and achievable goals, maintaining a negative energy balance, increasing daily physical activity, and making small, permanent dietary changes.

Essential Body Fat (Necessary Fat)

The minimum percentage of body fat required for physiological functioning: $2\text{--}5\%$ for males and $10\text{--}13\%$ for females.

Athlete Body Fat Standards

Body composition classifications corresponding to $6\text{--}13\%$ body fat for males and $14\text{--}20\%$ for females.

Subcutaneous Fat vs. Visceral Fat

Two distinct fat storage distributions; visceral fat is evaluated via MRI and is associated with upper-body 'Apple' distribution in men, whereas subcutaneous fat is associated with lower-body 'Pear' distribution in women.

Medical Interventions for Weight Loss

Clinical weight-management therapies including GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide / Ozempic), GLP-1 + GIP receptor agonists (tirzepatide), gastric sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy), and gastric bypass.

Healthy Weight Gain

A targeted protocol requiring three components: 1) Strength training, 2) Positive energy balance (sufficient calories), and 3) Positive nitrogen balance (more protein in than out).

Weight Maintenance

The practice of keeping daily caloric intake as close to Total Energy Expenditure (TEE) as possible while consuming plenty of protein (PRO).

Stress

The combination of physiological and psychological responses of the body to a perceived harmful or threatening event.

Stressors

The specific events or situations that bring about stress.

Eustress

Good or beneficial stress.

Distress

Bad or harmful stress.

Drive Theory

A stress theory proposing a direct, linear relationship between stress (arousal) and performance.

Inverted-U Theory

A performance theory demonstrating that performance improves with stress up to an optimal midpoint, beyond which additional stress impairs performance.

Individual Zone of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) Theory

A theory postulating that each individual possesses a distinct, optimal range of arousal or stress required to achieve their highest performance level.

Alarm Stage (Stage 1)

The initial fight-or-flight phase of the body's stress response.

Resistance Stage (Stage 2)

The secondary phase of the stress response that occurs when stress is prolonged.

Exhaustion Stage (Stage 3)

The terminal phase of the stress response where the body has depleted all of its energy resources by attempting, but failing, to recover from the alarm stage.

Physiological Signs of Exhaustion

Bodily symptoms resulting from chronic stress exhaustion: hypertension, elevated cholesterol, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke.

Psychological Signs of Exhaustion

Mental and emotional symptoms resulting from chronic stress exhaustion: irritability, depression, anxiety, and paranoia.

Top 5 College Stressors

The primary sources of stress identified for college students: academics, relationships, future concerns, time management, and financial matters (with technology and procrastination serving as additional stressors).

Biblical Perspective on Stress (John 16:33)

The theological context taught by Jesus to His disciples, establishing that stress and trials are an inevitable reality of life, and being a follower of Christ does not mean they will not happen.