It’s tough, grueling, and sometimes straight-up sucks. What are we talking about? It could be your commute, taking care of your kids, keeping the apartment in order… But today the Herculean topic is your exercise regimen! Do you know the ways to supplement your workout routine?
Maybe you want to give up (that’d be easier) but of course, you don’t. The physical body is not the only thing being trained – so is your mental vigor, and boy are you strong. Every day you find calm in the chaos, breathe through all those deadlifts, squats, sprints, as sweat stings your eyes and wet clothes cling to your body. Brush vanity aside – it is quite satisfying to see and feel quantitative results like a chiseled body and the ability to curl heavier weights week-by-week.
Working out is a dedication, a commitment, a lifestyle. You absolutely deserve to confidently take picture selfie of every progress, and float in that endorphin-laden high.
The last thing we gym-getters want? Delayed results, injuries, or the incapabilities of continuing our it’s-so-hard-but-feels-so-good workouts.
How to Ensure your Body is Being Fueled
Simply put, there is no “one-size fits all” for just about everything, nutrition included. However, eating a colorful, balanced diet filled with fruits, veggies, organic protein, and plenty of water intake is the consensus on how to fuel your body healthily, prepare for vigorous workouts and recovery.
Also, you’re probably familiar with “calories in versus calories out”. When you consume more calories than your body will use to function (your body uses calories even when you’re sitting down, reading this!), your body may store those calories in a form of fat to use later. On the other hand, if you’re smoldering through more calories than you consume, your body begins to burn fat (and eventually your muscles and bones — so please eat!),
More and more evidence pops up indicating that not only the calories matter, but WHAT those calories are. Avoiding deep-fried, processed foods and sticking with ingredients you can pronounce is a basic first step to reverting to whole foods, straight from the source.
However, if you are doing rigorous workouts, it is extra important to ensure you’re ingesting enough nutrients in order for your cells to repair themselves!
What is Happening in My Body When I Workout?
When your muscles are pumping, ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and glucose supply your cells with energy. Shortly, the body needs more oxygen to create more ATP, so more blood floods to the muscles with the oxygen.
Obviously, the muscles are working hard during workouts, but they’re not the only thing working. The pituitary gland in the brain awakens the adrenal glands to deliver hormones needed for movement, and “growth hormones” for muscle repair. These glands are also responsible for directing muscles to get their energy from fat and muscles after the glycogen storage is used up.
All this spiked blood flow affects the brain, alerting and awakening you during and after exercise. No wonder working out is addicting! Also, little tears in the muscles occur, but that means the muscle cells will grow back bigger, stronger and healthier.
Should I Take Supplements to Support my Muscle Repair and Workouts?
Your body does a lot for you. When you work out, you see how much it is capable of. Our bodies are amazing – let’s take care of them.
To support your workouts and ensure your body is getting enough of what it needs, you may want to take vitamins or supplements. Omega-3s, probiotics, and enzymes all work to help your muscles repair and build themselves stronger. Something like YouVeda’s My Healthy Body is a great addition to your well-rounded diet.
After all, you only get one body, and you’re stuck with it for your human life years. Why not invest a little to give your cells a little boost?
