So you’ve finally managed to drag yourself to the gym for that much needed workout and after an hour on the treadmill, doing water aerobics or shaking what your mama gave you doing Masala Bhangra, you are tired … and sore! After a good workout you can feel the soreness setting in and after a night’s sleep you can wake up with your entire body feeling like you got jumped in a bar fight.

We’ve got enough obstacles trying to keep us out of the gym, we don’t need feeling like crap afterwards to be added to the list. If your body tends to be sore after a workout and you need a little relief, we’ve got three ways to help reduce your soreness.

Thank us later!

Eat Something

After a workout you have about two hours to absorb what you eat as energy and repair fuel. If you do not eat, you may not have enough carbohydrate energy for your next, protein to repair muscles or enough healthy fat for your hormones and joints. Try having a protein smoothie with whey protein powder, a piece of fruit or even a slice of last night’s pizza.

Drink Something

Your muscle cells need water, so when it comes to reducing post workout soreness dehydration is one of your biggest enemies. For each hour of exercise make sure to drink one 20-24oz bottle of water. Not sure how to tell if you’re properly hydrated? After drinking the water, wait a few hours, if your urine is light or clear you’re good to go, if it’s dark…grab another bottle!

Get Your Blood Flowing

Circulation of blood in and out of a stressed body part improves speed of recovery. Techniques that can improve blood flow include cooling down after your workout with a walk or easy bike ride, wearing compression garments, performing light stretching during or after each workout, taking an ice bath or doing an easy exercise routine the day after a hard workout.

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