Rest and Recovery

It seems like in today’s fitness world everyone is training for something. Most of the time people forget to plan for adequate rest and recovery. I know that I am at fault for this. One of my coaches once told me “There is no such thing as overtraining. There is only under recovery. Most people do not put in enough time, effort, or intensity to put themselves into a state of overtraining. Most people simply do not recover well enough.”

It is common for individuals to encounter some type of injury during their training. In many cases, those injuries are due to overuse and can be prevented? Athletes love training, and we truly thrive off the adrenaline rush a good workout provides. Maybe it’s that “Runner’s High” or hitting a PR on the bench press. That taste of success and accomplishment makes us crave more. It’s that type of drive that has many athletes still living by the “zero days off” mantra. This training approach and lifestyle is not only dangerous, it is counterproductive to performance gains and can lead to serious injury.

The key to achieving that optimal performance level is proper rest and recovery. Without it, you are just wasting the time, energy, and effort you put into workouts. Studies show that no matter if you are a recreational athlete or an elite athlete you must incorporate sufficient rest and recovery days into your schedule. So, what does proper rest and recovery entail? One should take a look at the following:

• Proper sleep
• Adequate hydration
• Maintain optimal nutrition
• Incorporate rest days in your routine
• Look into different recovery techniques - foam rolling, hot and cold therapy, massage.

This month, our team of writers address each of these factors with important information on how to keep your energy levels in check and the best workout and recovery day foods. Be sure to check out our foam rolling for recovery exercises featured this month as well!