The 4-Step Post-Workout Routine That Will Change Your Life
It can be tough to find time to squeeze in a workout after a long day at the office. But hitting the gym first thing in the morning or right after work isn’t always feasible. Luckily, research shows that you can get many of the same benefits from a 30-minute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session as you would from an hour-long aerobic workout. In fact, new studies show that it may even be better than longer workouts for losing fat and increasing your VO2 max (a measure of how efficiently you process oxygen when exercising). If you don’t have time for a long workout, but want to see faster results from your efforts, try adding these five simple steps to your post-workout routine. They are just as effective as longer workouts with less risk of injury or strain on your schedule.
Walk it off
You don’t have to go for a long walk to gain the health benefits of walking after your workout. In fact, walking has been shown to have a number of positive effects on the body, including maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, reducing stress, and improving sleep quality. Walking after your workout will help your body process the effects of your workout, flush out lactic acid, and reduce muscle soreness. In a study of people who exercised followed by either walking or static stretching, those who walked saw less muscle soreness the next day. Walking won’t give you the same benefits as lifting weights, but can be a great way to finish off your workout session. It’s also a low-impact exercise that can be done at any level, so it’s a great way to ease into a workout routine.
Give your body the nutrients it needs
After a workout, your body is depleted of nutrients and amino acids used to build lean muscle, synthesize new proteins, and repair your body after a strenuous workout. After a workout, research suggests that taking in 20-25 grams of protein within 30 minutes of ending your exercise session will help your body better utilize the building blocks it needs to repair and heal. For best results, try a protein shake made with a combination of whey protein, casein, and/or a blend of other high-quality proteins. Alternatively, you can try a protein bar. If you prefer a meal, opt for fish, chicken, or legumes with a side of vegetables. And don’t forget to hydrate: you lose water as you exercise, and your body also metabolizes water to break down nutrients and produce energy.
Go easy on your joints
If you lift weights, your joints are under pressure during your workout. As your muscles get tired, your joints take on more of the strain, which can lead to discomfort or injury. To mitigate this risk, try a joint-friendly routine that emphasizes core movements and focuses on full body workouts. Squats, lunges, and deadlifts are effective at building strength and increasing your metabolism. But they also put a lot of pressure on your joints, especially when you’re still new to lifting. A gentler routine focused on core strength and full-body movements can have many of the same benefits without the risk of straining or injuring your joints.
Give yourself a breather
If you lift weights,it can help you achieve a number of benefits. It can improve and build muscles while helping you lose weight. This in turn improves your metabolic rate. Apart from this, there is a small intense routine you can add to your regime. A jump squat is an excellent exercise for the quads and calves. A push-up with a leg raise is an excellent exercise for the core. Finally, a knee raise with a leg raise is an excellent exercise for the lower back.
HIIT for 20 seconds
Finally, you can perform HIIT for 20 seconds. HIIT for 20 seconds will improve your cardiovascular system by increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. HIIT for 20 seconds will also help you build muscles, lose weight, and improve your metabolic rate. The best exercise that you can do is jumping jacks. Jumping jacks are an all-around exercise. You can do jumping jacks anywhere, anytime. That’s all you have to do, and you’ll get lots of benefits from it. These three exercises should take around 20 seconds to do each one, and you can repeat them as many times as you want. Try to do HIIT for 20 seconds at least once a week for maximum benefits.
Conclusion
It can be tough to find time to squeeze in a workout after a long day at the office. But hitting the gym first thing in the morning or right after work isn’t always feasible. Luckily, research shows that you can get many of the same benefits from a 30-minute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session as you would from an hour-long aerobic workout. In fact, new studies show that it may even be better than longer workouts for losing fat and increasing your VO2 max (a measure of how efficiently you process oxygen when exercising). If you don’t have time for a long workout, but want to see faster results from your efforts, try adding these five simple steps to your post-workout routine. They are just as effective as longer workouts with less risk of injury or strain on your schedule.