These Things May Be Hampering Your Workout Progress
By Sara Butler
People exercise to get healthy and stay that way. But it's not simply your habits at the gym that make you healthy, it's also your habits out of the gym, including what, how, and when you eat. There are more than a few habits that can wreck progress you're making when you work out, so it's important to be aware of them -- or be able to identify them if you hit a plateau. Here are a few of the things you may be doing that can sink your workouts before you even get started.
You Eat Too Close To Exercise
There's a vast and growing body of research out there that indicates eating too close to a workout is a non-starter. You should avoid eating large meals within the two hours before or after you exercise, or you may find that your body feels sluggish or you're making emergency pitstops to the facilities and interrupting your workout.
You Don't Eat Enough
While you want to avoid large meals close to a workout, you do need to fuel your body with something before you exercise. If you don't eat enough, then you may feel weak or even faint if your workout is too challenging. A light snack or breakfast is the best bet if you're a morning workout person or a quick snack with healthy carbs and protein before your afternoon exercise session can do the trick.
You should eat a light snack or meal about an hour before you work out.
You're Eating Highly Processed Foods
No matter how much time you spend at the gym, if you're regularly eating foods that are highly processed and full of sugar and fat, then you're still at risk for health complications. Sugary, processed foods put you at a higher risk for high blood sugar and subsequently, diabetes. These foods can also inhibit your body from creating healthy blood vessels in your muscles as you exercise, which can impact your workout adversely.
You Don't Drink Enough Water
Water is key to good health and effective exercise. If you're dehydrated, then you can experience a drop in blood pressure that makes you feel lightheaded as well as nausea, constipation, and muscle cramps. You should have your water bottle with you while your exercise so you can periodically take sips -- and don't forget to drink water all day long even when you're away from the gym.
If you're struggling at the gym, then discuss your challenges with the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic for help.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in St. Peters, Mo.