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Feel like you're putting in all the work during your training session? Doing all the right things but not seeing the results you want? Or maybe you're noticing that you're more sore than usual and/or more tired? We've been there too and know how frustrating it can be to feel like you're putting in the work but not seeing the results you want. That's where your nutrition, and in particular, post-workout nutrition comes in! That post-workout re-nourishment can be key to your recovery and seeing those performance changes continuing in the right direction. 
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We’ve all heard about BCAA, electrolytes, Vitargo/Karbolyn and other touted substances to put into your system throughout training to get that extra push or prevent muscle loss. But how do you know which one is right for you, your goals, training style and length of session? Not only can intra-workout nutrition help you perform better, but also help you get a handle on recovery early, nipping that soreness in the butt.  Ever been in the middle of an intense training session to all of a sudden hit a wall like BAM! Or maybe you have this sudden onset of not so pleasant digestive symptoms?
To be honest, we’ve all been there at least once in our training lives. This can be a reflection of what you put into your body prior to training. Yes, that cheese and egg sandwich you scarfed down on route to the gym, or that heavy dinner you had “to give you energy” before an evening session are doing more harm than good. You are probably sitting there reading this and asking why…? Well, let’s break it down to understand the what, when, whys and how’s to creating a simpler formula to feel your best during your workouts. With most of us working from home now and for the foreseeable future, having a good work station is KEY to not only productivity but also to your performance.
We've all experienced the feeling at the gym after a long days work, when there are squats or lunges programmed and we notice that our hips fatigue faster, our back feels tighter, our joints achier etc. This is not merely some coincidence, it usually stems from the fact that most of us sit 7-9 hours a day straight and then without stretching much or moving, expect our bodies to magically perform and move the way we know they can. While we might be holding on the fact that we could bounce back and avoid pains when we were in our early 20s, the reality is that as we get older and sit more, the aches and pains are only going to get worse. Unless something is done to fix it. We all know that sitting is a killer - leading to chronic aches and pains - but, yet we all still do it. We sit to work, we sit to drive, we sit to watch tv etc. Sitting is ingrained in our culture and lifestyle, so that’s why we aren’t going to tell you to never sit down again (that would be unrealistic). So, if we can't stop sitting, what can we do to help reduce chronic pain from sitting? You know the feeling when you’ve had a tough workout? Your body hurts in new and different ways, and you’re probably going to be sore tomorrow?
Now have you had that experience, and forgotten to prioritize your nutrition after? You might have noticed that it took you a few days to feel back to normal. When we exercise, we put our body under stress – our central nervous system, cardiovascular system, muscles, etc all work hard under the pressure and this leads to some (natural) damage. Our physiological systems change and adapt to the stress, and some of these changes lead to adaptation to exercise training over time. The good news is that we can get a leg up on that adaptation with the RIGHT nutrition. By taking in proper nutrition, we can help our body to continue recover from the stress we put it under, so that over time we will reap the results of our training (aka recovery faster and build more muscle!). Quarantine and the closure of gyms has turned most of us into runners, and most for the first time. This is GREAT news as it is getting people outside (practicing social distancing, of course) and moving! When most of us live in condos, we really value the ability to be able to get outside and move!
However, while most of you reading this engage in regular activities (inside and outside of the gym), there’s a good chance that most of you haven’t run regularly before the pandemic. And when we say “regularly” we mean more than before, more than just in workouts at the gym - a deliberate choice to run for more than 2 km at a time. So, what? While running is a great way to build lung capacity and mental fortitude, it is very hard on our bodies, especially when running on concrete. In this regard, the constant impact can in most cases lead to things like knee pain, foot pain and/or shin splints. If you haven’t experienced any of these yet, that is great news! If you have, then hopefully you’re working to get back to a pain-free state. In either case, here are our top tips to prevent injury or re-injury! The last few months have shaken up the entire world. When the pandemic first hit, industries had to immediately adapt and pivot their services online if they wanted to survive. This was of course easier in some industries (eg. retail) than others (eg. entertainment). Luckily, in the fitness industry - smaller, boutique gyms were able to pivot their services online: to mitigate the damage from closure of their brick and mortar locations and to ensure their clients were still receiving the coaching, support and accountability they needed to continue to thrive!
It was a no-brainer for us: our members always come first. We knew the moment we had to close our physical space, that we needed to continue to support our members by providing the kind of high-quality service we are known for. In this regard, to ensure our members and coaches had the tools and resources they needed to continue to be 6S-full, we offered/are still offering 1-on-1 fitness and nutrition coaching, virtual group classes, fitness and nutrition challenges and various virtual events, to name a few. In the end, we could not be more proud of our community and all they have accomplished throughout the pandemic! However, even though as a community we have adapted and still continued to thrive, there's still an elephant in the room which needs to be addressed. And that is...What will fitness look like post-pandemic? Guest Blog Written By: Sarah Ahmed, Psychotherapist, Co-Founder of WellNest Psychotherapy
I think at this point, it's safe to say, things feel out of place for all of us – all over the world. Even though some cities and countries have started talking about reopening businesses and somewhat resuming some semblance of normalcy, we all know that many aspects of this pandemic are here to stay. What makes it more challenging is the fact that we still do not have any answers to many questions. How long will wearing a mask be part of my daily routine? What restrictions are here to stay? When will I be able to travel internationally again without having to quarantine? While we may not have the answers to these questions, click below for our top 3 strategies to manage uncertainty to help manage and relieve stress and anxiety. With the transition to more people working from home & the closure of gyms in the city, more and more people are also working out from home. And for a lot of us, we’re not accustomed to either, but our only choice is to adapt.
But the problem is: most of us “know” what we have to do - we need to adapt a new routine, we need to stick to this routine, we need to minimize our snacking etc. the list goes on - but we don’t have the accountability in place to motivate us to get these things done. This tends to result in a downward spiral, where sleeping in, eating poorly and lack of exercise begin to become our new “norm”. Worst of all, we stop feeling strong & confident in our skin! So why is it that with all of the free information out there, most of us feel crippled, which results in no action being taken to help improve our overall health and wellness? These are strange times, chaotic times, special times, unique times - These sayings have become ubiquitous in our conversations lately. Whatever we want to call it, things are different for all of us in one way or another. Most of us have experienced huge changes to our routines. The gym has closed, our kids aren’t going to school, we’re working from home, and other extracurriculars have been cancelled. While I don’t have much experience and therefore can’t offer much help on how to deal with kids at home, I have had experience with remote work and working from home, and can help offer some suggestions to help you navigate through this new (hopefully only temporary) norm.
There are some key things we can do to keep ourselves healthy, both physically and mentally, during these turbulent times! |
AuthorCrossFit 6S team helping you achieve your fitness goals. Archives
January 2021
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