Establishing a workout routine can be a real challenge. If you already have one, it may be extra difficult to maintain when winter is just around the corner and we are seven months into a pandemic.
Many have been feeling the blahs since March and haven’t gotten much further than from the kitchen to the couch with their binge-watching snacks. Others have been sticking to an exercise schedule all summer and are running out of steam. Wherever you are, you are not alone.
If you want to get a head start before the snow flies, it’s vital to support yourself in your fitness journey, starting now. While you may be thinking about how to get more ripped or how to run a faster mile, feeling your best post-workout can change how quickly you meet your goals; and hitting a bump in the road won’t mean the end of your progress when you have to expend extra energy on the stress of life.
If you find yourself exhausted and sore after every session, keep reading to learn about ways to maximize your workouts and recovery, minimize soreness and fatigue, and feel your best on your days off.
1. Quit Smoking
We all know that smoking affects the lungs and the heart, making it difficult to get the oxygen that feeds your muscles so you can recover and get stronger faster. When you work out with weakened or damaged lungs, you’re going to fatigue sooner and have a harder time feeling normal after.
Vaping and other nicotine inhalation devices still introduce chemicals into the lungs, but smokeless tobacco alternatives like Black Buffalo’s tobacco-free dip can help you get the nicotine you crave while you kick the smoking habit.
2. Get Better Rest
Sleep time is recovery time. Your body uses this time to repair itself, clear buildup of waste, and replenish energy stores that have been depleted throughout the day. Poor sleep makes muscle restoration impossible. While it’s difficult to maintain a regular sleep schedule while managing a full life if work, fitness, and play, there are supplements out there that can help.
Athletes have been turning to CBD gummies to help them get the rest they need in order to keep going even after the most grueling workouts. The best CBD gummies taste great, are discreet, and are made with hemp grown in the United States. A gummy before bed will help you fall asleep and stay asleep, so you feel refreshed in the morning.
4. Keep Moving
We know it’s important to get the right amount of ZZZs, but you also shouldn’t spend your days off lazing around. Inactivity will make you stiff. Taking your recovery days to do some light, easy movement like yoga, swimming, or going for a walk can help your muscles clear out that extra waste from your last bike ride so you feel more limber.
It may be difficult to feel motivated to do much when you’re already sore, but CBD gummies for pain can take the edge off while you get moving. Taking them a half hour before bed helps you fall asleep and stay asleep, and taking them when you start the day helps you feel better about the fact that you are out of bed in the first place.
5. Stay Hydrated
It is essential to make sure you’re getting enough water throughout your day, even when you are not working out. Being well hydrated supports healthy functioning in every way, but it is especially important when you work out.
Your body needs proper hydration to regulate temperature; and drinking the right amount of water every day keeps your joints lubricated, too. It will help you cool down faster, keep your muscles from cramping, and help prevent injury.
6. Eat a Balanced Diet
Of course, it’s okay to indulge in that chocolate sundae every once in a while, but you’ve got to make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need on a daily basis. Otherwise, you will be constantly exhausted after working out.
What you should be eating will vary depending on your body type and weight, as well as the kind of training you are doing, and what your personal fitness goals are. Do some research to figure out what will work best for you, and make a plan. Keep healthy snacks nearby so you can curb your appetite and maintain sugar levels when you feel like munching.
7. Be Persistent
Working toward physical fitness is a lifelong mission. You won’t likely see results overnight, or even in a week. However, doing the things on this list may change your workout game in a surprisingly short amount of time.
Getting the right amount of oxygen, sleep, nutrients, and water will help you feel better during and after your workouts to help you keep at your routine without giving up.
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