There is no denying that committing to and staying on a weight loss plan is no easy task and heading out to the gym when you just want to curl up on the sofa with a takeaway pizza takes real determination. Yet, once your head is in the game and you have a plan in place you can start to see the weight loss goals you have been dreaming of.
However, once you get the fitness bug and are feeling motivated, you can start to neglect your recovery time and may be tempted to push yourself too far. While you may think that the more you work out the better, you should consider the impact that pushing your body over the limit can have on the sustainability of your weight loss journey on a long-term basis, as well as your overall health. So here is everything you need to know about muscle recovery and how you can combine it with your weight loss plan to get the best results.
Why is muscle recovery so important?
It is crucial that you consider muscle recovery as an important element to your fitness and weight loss plan, as without it you won’t be able to sustain regular physical activity and weight loss. It is common for new fitness goers to go hard in the gym in their first few sessions in the hope that this will boost their weight loss. However, pushing your body through a workout that it isn’t used to without giving your joints and muscles the opportunity to rest can knock you off course altogether and leave you in too much pain to continue.
Remember that weight loss is a marathon and not a sprint, so if you want to achieve continuous and long-term successes then you need to start slow and steady.
Don’t forget to stretch it out
Many people are surprised to learn that the time you spend in the gym working out isn’t what makes their muscles grow stronger. Intense workouts and training sessions can actually be destructive to your body as muscles get torn, ligaments stretched, and tendons are strained. Instead, it is within the recovery process that your muscles repair, grow stronger, and become more resilient.
It is important that you take the time after each workout to stretch out your body and start the muscle recovery process. Having muscle recovery equipment on hand, such as a foam roller, is a great way to boost your general muscle strength and improve recovery time between workouts. If you are looking to target specific muscles post-workout then a massage gun is a great tool to use. By using muscle recovery equipment, such as these mentioned above, you can help your body recover to ensure that you are ready to tackle your post-rest day workout and stay committed to your weight loss plan.
Improved sleep
We have all been there. You do a heavy session in the gym, and struggle to walk the next day. Having an achy and sore body post-workout can cause lots of disruption to your daily life, including how well you sleep. Additionally, when we are feeling tired and lethargic, we can feel hungrier and increase our calorie intake, making our weight loss plan even more difficult to stick to. Instead, by allowing time for muscle recovery, we can experience improved sleep, and wake up each morning feeling refreshed, pain-free, and ready for an active healthy day ahead.
Combine nutrition and recovery
Many people neglect the ways in which they can combine nutrition and muscle recovery through their diet and the foods they eat. For example, fruits, herbs and vegetables are rich in minerals and nutrients which aid bodily functions. So, the more of these foods that you include in your meal plan, the quicker and more effective your recovery period will become. Similarly, omega-3 fats can improve your joints, help to reduce inflammation, and can be found in foods such as salmon, sardines, and tuna, so try to include these in your meals.
By scheduling the time and having the equipment on hand to allow for muscle recovery, your weight loss dreams are much more likely to become a reality.
Bio: Aimee Harrington
Aimee Harrington is a freelance writer and Mother of 2. Her two kids are everything and when not sat in-front of the computer screen, Aimee is a keen runner.
