Recover-Between-Workouts-MagMile-CrossFitWhen you first start CrossFit, it’s easy to get excited about your next workout. You want to continue challenging yourself and seeing results. We all do!

So what can you do to maintain that high level of excitement and continue making performance gains? The answer may not be what you expect.

Recovery is the secret. If your only focus is on the workout itself, then you may not be getting the proper rest you need in between your workouts. Over time, poor recovery can lead to muscle soreness, overtraining, and even injury.

So, here are a few simple ways to make sure that you recover well between workouts:

1. Good Sleep

If you’re currently sleeping less than six hours a night, then it might be affecting your recovery. Once you fall asleep, your body uses that time to rebuild your body. As you sleep, your body repairs damage from all sources of stress, including from your workouts. To get the most out of this repair time, aim to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night.

2. Mobility

Mobility exercises like foam rolling, mobility drills, and dynamic stretching can promote recovery. If you’re sore, light movement can also help alleviate some of that discomfort. Just keep in mind that mobility work should never cause or create pain. The goal is to move through your joints’ full range of motion and perform exercises that support this goal.

3. Hydration

Staying hydrated throughout the day, not just after a workout, also helps your body recover well. Your body needs water to maintain and rebuild itself. So if you’re dehydrated, then it has to work harder to recover. And that kind of defeats the whole purpose.

4. Good Nutrition

Your individual diet and personal nutrition needs will vary. In general, if you follow up a workout with lean meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, you’ll set yourself for greater recovery success than if you skipped eating altogether. Aim for real, nutritious foods. Save your money and avoid the commercial powders, drinks, and bars.

We offer flexible membership packages to suit all levels of training. To learn more about how to get started with MagMile CrossFit in Chicago, contact us today.