During our entire lives, we try to make some kind of progress, in all areas of life. Moreover, any time that we are not making progress, we view it as a bad thing. Exercising and training are no different; in order to really achieve something, we need to strive for constant progress, which in this case means pushing our bodies to their limits, which is what produces results in the end. But anyone who has ever exercised or done sports knows the pains that follow a vigorous exercise. They can be irritating, and even make us unable to work out for a while. Unfortunately, sore muscles are unavoidable along the way, but there are ways to reduce the uncomfortable feeling quite a bit. Here’s how to recover quickly after an intense workout.
Drink water
Most people underestimate the key role that water plays in our body, but this is especially true for exercise. Water aids in every cellular process in our body, and when we are dehydrated, our body cannot function and recover properly. Especially during an intense workout, we lose a lot of fluids, and restoring this balance is the first step to a quick recovery.
Hop into the bath
Once you are hydrated again, you may want to draw a hot bath, and rest in it for a while.
The hot water will relax your muscles and loosen them, which can help soothe any pain that follows a strenuous training session. Some athletes even recommend switching between cold and hot showers, which is said to promote the dilation and constriction of blood vessels, which promotes blood circulation and recovery.
Stretch
You should never underestimate the effect of a good stretch on your muscles. Exercises that you perform can often be repetitive and cause stress to your muscles, which in turn makes them cramp, contract, and cause you pain. By dedicating enough time to stretch after a vigorous exercise, you can help your muscles get back into normal, and start off the recovery the right way. Even though it may be a little uncomfortable, it really goes a long way in terms of the pain it can prevent in the hours and days to come.
Rest
It feels like this one goes without saying, but rest is also a very important factor when it comes to recovery. The more time you spend resting, the shorter and less uncomfortable will your recovery period be.
Do not overwork your body, and do an equally vigorous workout the next day. Take a break, relax, and let your body take care of everything.
Eat a healthy meal
During an exercise, it is not only water that we expel, there are also important vitamins and minerals that we lack, and that you should try to restore with your post-workout meal. This is why you should not go for junk food immediately after exercising, but try to keep things more healthy by giving your body exactly what it needs. If you take care of your body, your body will take care of you, so be mindful of what you eat after your workouts.