Have you ever for a moment wondered if you will ever be able to achieve optimal results when working out? Have you ever spent countless hours in the gym either running miles on the treadmill or exerting your muscles in the weight room? Have you ever spent hours at a time on the internet hoping to identify healthy weight loss tips? You are not alone.
So what exactly is keeping you from achieving your results? Several things. In fact, you may be shocked to know that there are several things you do before and after your workout that might actually be destroying your progress:
You Pig out Before Going to The Gym
I think we have all been guilty of pigging out before going to the gym. In theory it sounds completely normal. You eat all you possibly can and then you work it all off, right? Well not exactly. If you know anything about the digestive process, it's draining and if your body has no energy to move what good is a workout?
Not Eating
Have you ever been in a weight loss rut where you were willing to lose weight by any means necessary even if that meant not eating at all? Many of you have but contrary to popular belief not eating is also an easy to way to gain weight, yes gain. You see Leptin is what tells your body that your weight is not too low and so if you don't have enough your metabolism drops and your body will automatically try to hold the fat.
Drinking Too Much Water
When you go to the gym it is practically a guarantee that you will in some way lose a lot of water. That is one primary reason why it is often suggested that you stay hydrated before and during workouts to prevent dehydration. While drinking water can be a proactive step in your fitness journey it can also be counteractive. Drinking too much water before you work-out can lead to fatigue and can also cause cramping. Cramping in some cases could become so painful that you have to cut your workout short.
Drinking a Protein Shake Before You Workout
I always used to believe that protein shakes were a slick way for me to be able to enjoy something that tasted like a milkshake without having to actually drink a real milk shake. While protein shakes if made properly can be a healthy alternative it can also be the greatest opponent to your workout out success if consumed before your workouts. Some even seem to believe that protein is your body's least favorite kind of fuel.
No Stretching
One of the one things I hated most about P.E. (Physical Education) as a child was stretching and as an adult I still feel the exact same way. Sometimes you just want to get straight to your workout and get it done and quite frankly stretching prolongs that. While skipping your stretch may save you time it is destroying your muscles and increasing your chance for injury.
What other things do you do (or not do) that could be impacting your journey to a healthy life?