For those who made the New Year's Resolution to get into better shape, there is a warning that you must heed. It is easy to become exuberant about your new workout routine. You have bought all of your clothes, and you are ready to start going to the fancy new gym. However, before you begin planning for a strenuous workout each day of the week, here are three reasons why you need to prioritize recovery after each strenuous workout.
1- To Prevent Injury
If you are new to working out, or if you are a professional athlete or bodybuilder, there is nothing worse than working towards your goals and then being taken out due to an injury to a muscle or joint. By taking ample time to recover after a hefty workout, you will reduce the chance of sustaining an injury. If an athlete pushes their body too far, the ligaments and joints need time to heal. This is done with good nutrition and allowing the body to repair the damage it endured. If you are quick to hit the gym before your body has had a chance to recuperate, you may be setting yourself up for increased inflammation or possibly a torn muscle.
2- To Build Muscle Mass
As you work out, your muscles will create micro-tears that will be replaced by proteins. This is what increases muscle mass in the body. By providing your body ample time to rest and by consuming amino acids and protein-rich foods, your body will actually create better muscle mass during a period of recovery than it will if you push yourself to the limits each day. Allowing your body to maintain homeostasis and to heal itself will actually do more good than trying to push it to the point of exhaustion.
3- To Increase Performance
Too much of a good thing can be damaging. For those who are new to working out, you are more likely to keep up with an exercise program if you allow your body to rest in between workouts. If you have been doing this for a while, you know that giving your body rest will actually bring you to a higher level of performance. You will not experience muscle fatigue as quickly in your next workout. If you are looking to increase your performance, alternate the days you work various parts of your body if you are weight lifting, or try different types of cardio like swimming to allow for other muscle groups to recover.
Taking a day off in between strenuous workouts actually does your body more good than harm. You aren't lazy. You are still being consistent. The goal is to allow your body to heal from the strain you put it through so that it can be stronger and healthier. If you overdo it, you will not only risk injury; you will actually grow your muscle mass more slowly, and you will experience fatigue more quickly. Do yourself a favor: rest, eat well, and let your body recover, and this will have a large effect on your workout journey
