Gulp … gulp … gulp … ahhh! … Oh hey Inner Strength listener. What’s up? I didn’t see you there. I was just downing a tall glass of water. You should be drinking one, too. Water is extremely important and relevant to the topic we’re going to discuss today, which is how to recover your body after taxing workouts.
This podcast comes as a special request from one of my clients, and I’ll tell you, I have been extremely high on good recovery ever since I experienced the excruciatingly painful consequences of no recovery following the weeks upon weeks of intense work leading up to the 2007 IFBB state championships.
Settle in, and take notes on the knowledge I’m about to drop on you because it will help you get better results -- bigger gains in less time while reducing soreness and protecting against tactile and nervous system injury.
Most people don’t. When I say “hard enough” I mean how much of your nervous system are you activating when you train? If you are training at an intense level then recovery, i.e., proper rest, becomes extremely important. Here’s what you’re gonna need to know:
Sleep is your body’s natural recovery and repair tool. When you sleep, your body regulates hormones and recharges the brain. This is why when I hear so-called gurus talking about their “strug-life”, “sleep when you die” mindset, I have a hearty belly laugh. I’d do it right in their face, too, because I know it’s all a bunch of nonsense. If they are doing this, I can guarantee you it’s not often, and if it is, their productivity and creativity are so impaired, it might even make me sad for them. Don’t buy them day-old donuts. Here’s what you need to know about what happens when you sleep:
Amino acids are the building blocks for rebuilding your muscle tissue. You need lots of good high-quality protein (i.e., amino acids) for recovery, but you’ll also need more. Learn:
Here are a few other things that help cut recovery time, release endorphins and promote nervous system rejuvenation:
Well, friends, this was a full episode. There was a lot of great information you can use right away to help you get the most out of your training. Remember, stress comes in many forms and you can use these tips to deal with stress in all of its forms. Now get out there and get after it! You’re stronger than you know.
More next time!
Peace,