A healthy life includes regular exercise, but it can be costly, inconvenient and uncomfortable, which makes it hard to find the necessary motivation. Today we’re looking at how you can optimise your exercise routines to make them easier, less painful and something you look forward to rather than dread!
The After Effects
One of the things that can make exercise a less than tempting prospect is that it leaves you exhausted, sweaty and aching, especially if you’re unpractised and trying to get fitter. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this debilitating!
There are two key problems that can cause excessive post-exercise discomfort: dehydration and lack of preparation. When you work out, you heat up your body and it sweats to cool down. As well as losing fluid (which alone can lead to headaches and other problems), you also lose the salts dissolved in them. These are called electrolytes and they’re vital to how your body works. An electrolyte imbalance can lead to fatigue, cramps, headaches, confusion, and an irregular heartbeat! If you buy ORS or a similar rehydration product like an isotonic sports drink you’ll replenish not just your fluid supplies but your electrolytes too, and recover from exercise faster!
You can also aid your return to normal but making sure you prepare for your workout routine: allow time warming up and cooling down, and research stretches that will help the muscle groups you’re working prepare for the stresses of exercise and return to normal afterwards.
Limit Your Time
There’s only a certain amount of work your body can do: if you work out for an hour, then you inevitably have to lower the intensity of what you’re doing. There are some benefits of doing low intensity workouts for extended periods, particularly if you’re trying to build stamina, but if you’re just trying to raise your general level of fitness or burn some extra calories then you’re better off sticking to a regular 30-40 minute routine.
Keeping your exercise to short, sharp bursts like this and it’s easier to fit around your life.
Build Endurance
Too many people launch into a new form of exercise without caution. Different forms of exercise work different muscle groups, so even if you consider yourself ordinarily fit and healthy, a new form of exercise can stretch you in ways you’re not prepared for and leave you suffering aches and pains.
Build up your endurance with this new form of exercise slowly, developing the muscles it stresses and ensuring you warm up beforehand and cool down afterwards: this might add time to your workout routine but it will help you get back to normal without aching or strained muscles.