If you have overworked yourself and you are fatigued, rest comes first. Showing up when your body wants to move should never be hindered by excuses. Rest days, when needed, are just as crucial to maintaining your physical and mental strength. You gain major benefits as you begin to consciously use your awareness by paying attention and becoming in tune with your body.
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Health should be your number one priority. Therefore, days off are as needed as days on. Days off will help with muscle recovery. After sweaty workouts, your muscles will need rest to recover and replenish fully. Days off are a good opportunity to nourish your body with vitamins, nutrients, and the self-care your muscles need. Again, it’s all about creating balance.
For exercise and rest days, there are many ways to take good care of your body:
- Feed your body with essential nutrients
To get the most out of muscle training, you need to feed your body the right foods. For your body to recover from physical activity, it needs essential vitamins and nutrients. What you feed your body will enhance strength, mindfulness, and endurance.
Don’t be afraid of carbohydrates. These can be highly beneficial for boosting your energy and glycogen levels on rest days where you allow yourself to ‘cheat’ and have a nice meal and more food. Rely on complex carbs such as whole grains, legumes, fiber-rich fruits, and vegetables. You could try this cauliflower soup recipe, which is great for post-workout fuel.
Protein is also essential for muscle recovery. Whether you are plant-based or not, there is an abundance of options. Fatty fish, lean meats, and plant-based proteins are the cleanest and most effective sources of protein for lean, healthy muscles.
Your muscle and physical fitness are intimately linked to well-being. An exercise regimen that builds muscle has a holistic effect and a multitude of benefits. Training and treating your muscles with good exercise and natural sources of protein, vitamins, and minerals will mean they will return the kind favor.
Eat your superfoods, proteins, complex carbs, adaptogens, and vitamins, and your body will thank you for it.
Some enjoy fasted cardio, which involves not eating for a set period of time before running, cycling, swimming, or whatever your chosen cardio activity is. Studies suggest that you can burn more fat and more overall calories 12 and 24 hours after an exercise session if you are in a fed state during the exercise session.
- The feel-good formula – Listen to your body
If something is on your mind, a great way to process emotions and thoughts is to let them pour through physical activity. Listen to what your body needs, get up, get active, and sweat it out!
To keep up a physical routine, it truly needs to be enjoyed. For it to be enjoyable, your body needs to be able to cope, have fun, and feel good post-workout.
If your body requires you to sweat more, do it. Increasing resistance training will not only improve your flexibility and overall strength but will also balance your focus. It becomes increasingly difficult to maintain muscle, balance, and flexibility as you get older.
High-intensity exercise from cardio to muscle training has impressive results for life longevity. Your body will benefit it in future years and can help with flexibility and mobility.
If you prefer gentle exercise, this can have similar effects. Strength training keeps your mind and body young. Slow movements, such as yoga and pilates, are known as eccentric training. It boosts your mood and builds strength.
Challenge Yourself
From time to time, it is good to challenge yourself. Strive for an unimaginable yoga pose, distance run, or better yet, learn how to do a split. You may find a new activity you love. Or even better, your mentality will expand and feel good from trying new things.
It is never too late to start exercising or to try something new. Anyone can create new habits at any given time. Time is your virtue. Thus, being consistent and making time for exercise is the key to moving in a healthy direction.
It is important to stress that looking after our physical body is attached to our mental state of mind.
