Recovery time is almost as important as the workout itself.
Most people have a hard enough time getting to the gym, and never even really think twice about the recovery period afterwards. No matter how you work out, your muscles will have worked harder, and there will be some strain on your body in general. Immediately after a workout the body goes into recovery mode and tries to heal the muscles and tissues, which ends up building strength. Here are three things you should absolutely be doing after your workout, to speed up your recovery and stay healthy.
Hydration is key to any physical activity, and when we exercise, we lose an exorbitant amount of water. Hydrating after working out can be accomplished with regular water, a healthy smoothie, or coconut water (which also has potassium). You lose a lot of water weight when you exercise, so its important to replenish those fluids to keep your body in tip-top shape.
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You should always cool down after exercising. That means if you are running, walk afterwards. If you are after strength training, rest while you stretch after. This will give your body the time it needs to reallocate resources and heal.
Stretch for 5-10 minutes. Stretching after a workout maintains your circulation, and helps decrease any next-day soreness, which can be a god-send especially if you don’t work out often.
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Great tips, cool downs are so important. What got you started with your blog?