Whether you’re a gym regular or it’s your first time at the gym, we all have to go through a recovery stage after we work out. It is our body’s natural response to the small damaged muscle fibers we rip while exercising.
During recovery, our bodies work to repair our muscles, which makes them stronger. This inflamed state lasts a couple of days; however, there are things you can do to speed this process up.
We’re going to go over all you need to know about how to recover faster.
Use CBD Products
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the 104 chemical compounds, aka cannabinoids, found in the marijuana plant, state the experts at Cherry Vita. Since the legalization of cannabis products in many places in the United States, CBD has grown in the health and wellness community.
CBD has been proven to reduce inflammation in the body. This property can be used to aid in recovery post-workout. Tara Laferrara, a professional fitness influencer, swears by CBD products to reduce pain and recommends using it.
Eat More Protein
Protein is essential for repairing your muscles. The amino acids that are naturally in proteins are absorbed into your body and sent to your muscles.
These amino acids aid in building stronger muscles because they restore the fibers that are torn during a workout. The more protein the body has, the more supply the muscles have to become stronger faster.
After a workout, you should drink a protein shake or food naturally high in protein. This doesn’t have to be meat as there are a lot of plant-based foods that are great to eat at the end of your exercise.
The More Water, The Better
This might seem like an obvious one, but many of us don’t drink as much water as we should a day. Water Logic reported that “the average American still only drinks 1.8 cups a day, which is significantly less than the 8.5 cups a day that is recommended.”
Water helps to flush out toxins in our body, which will aid us in recovering faster. Also, water is good for digestion and will make it easier for our bodies to absorb nutrients after a workout.
After we exercise, our heart rates are high. Water helps to lower our heart rates. It’s even more critical if you live in a hot climate, or it’s summertime. Dehydration can make you feel weak and fatigued after a workout.
Stretch or Massage
Cooling down or stretching is just as important as the workout itself. If you take the time to do a good stretch, during recovery, you won’t be as stiff or sore on the days to come. Your muscles contract post-workout, and stretching can keep them long and flexible.
Another great thing about this is that you’ll have a more extensive range of motion. It’s ideal to have a good range because then your form will be better while doing specific exercises. When you have better form, you’ll get better results and also have fewer injuries.
Our bodies naturally make lactic acid after working out, which makes our muscles and bodies sore. Getting a massage or using a foam roller to release the build-up of lactic acid and increase blood flow can make us feel better quicker.
Get Some Sleep
When we are asleep, our bodies are working very hard to restore and cleanse. During REM sleep, your muscles are able to relax. Your body will then use the water and nutrients you’ve consumed to start the muscle healing process.
Letting your body rest after a good workout is better than overdoing it. If you don’t let your body recover, you can get seriously injured. Then, it will take even longer for recovery and to get back to training.
Be Kind to Yourself
It’s important to let your body heal when it needs to and not keep pushing it to the point of exhaustion. Don’t feel bad if you need to skip one more day before doing another workout. You can use this day to do some relaxing yoga to stretch out your muscles or you can shop now for some cool new workout apparel that gets you excited for your next gym session. Whatever it is, make sure you give yourself the break you need and deserve.
The Bottom Line
Getting stronger is all about working out and then recovering over and over again. Putting in the work at the gym is vital for getting the results you want; however, what you do after a workout is just as important.
Proper recovery is essential for your health and reduces injury. The top ways to speed up this process are to use anti-inflammatory products like CBD, eat more quality protein, drink plenty of water, stretch often, and get enough rest.
When you combine these with proper form, consistency, and a good diet, you’ll see the results you want!
