Personal trainers can attest that what you do just before and immediately after each workout impacts both short-term performance and long-term progress in a major way. Although you undoubtedly have unique fitness goals, there are a few general post-workout recovery tips that virtually everyone should follow for optimal health and wellness. 

How to Facilitate Recovery After Every Workout

1. Drink Plenty of Water

Dehydration will only worsen muscle soreness, so make sure to keep drinking water, even after you’ve stopped sweating. A seasoned personal trainer can evaluate your diet, lifestyle, and activity levels to determine precisely how much water you should be drinking.

Experts generally recommend drinking half of your body weight in ounces every day as a starting point. If you’re 180 pounds, that means you should be drinking 90 ounces of water daily. On especially demanding days, however, you may need to consume considerably more for optimal recovery. 

2. Fill up on Protein 

Eating protein-packed snacks or supplements before and after every gym session will both enhance performance during the workout and speed up recovery after. Protein provides the body with essential amino acids, which prevent small tissue tears in the short term and increase muscle growth in the long term.

The best sources of lean protein that are easy to prepare after a rigorous workout include eggs, Greek yogurt, salmon, tuna, chicken, and turkey. 

3. End With Low-Intensity Exercises

Ending each workout with a light resistance exercise like swimming, yoga, or walking will increase blood flood, thereby supplying the fatigued muscles with much-needed nutrients right away. This is called active recovery, and it can also be performed between sessions to reduce muscle pain. Your trainer will let you know whether you should rest or partake in active recovery between workouts. 

The personal trainers at QuickHIT Fitness give every client detailed and tailored pre- and post-workout instructions so they can achieve their fitness goals faster. Located in Onalaska, WI, this Private Personal Training Studio provides one-on-one training, utilizing the latest in science to give you amazing results faster. Together with our team of Fitness Professionals, QuickHIT Fitness can help you achieve the strong, healthy, and powerful body that you’ve always wanted. To learn more about their team, visit their website. To schedule a fitness consultation, call (608) 518-3242, or simply request a Complimentary Introductory session and Consultation through the website.