The day after a tough workout, you may feel a little tired and maybe even a bit sore. Post-workout fatigue and post-workout soreness is not uncommon, but can be minimized with adjustments to your training program, proper nutrition and obtaining adequate amounts of sleep.
Post-Workout Fatigue
Pushing your body to the limits can enhance performance, but only if you allow your body proper recovery time following the workouts. It is also essential to replace lost glycogen stores -- carbohydrate stores -- in the muscles following your workouts to promote muscle recovery. When athletes train hard and do not consume an adequate diet, either through total calorie or carbohydrate restriction, the carbohydrate stores become depleted in the muscles and in the liver, which in turn reduces blood glucose levels. As a result, you can become fatigued the day after your workout and, if it continues, develop chronic fatigue and a decrease in performance, notes Jack H. Wilmore and David L. Costill, authors of "Physiology of Sport and Exercise." Furthermore, not consuming enough protein to help repair and rebuild damaged muscle tissue can also result in fatigue.
Sleep
Obtaining adequate amounts of sleep is essential whenever you train hard. Muscles grow not in the weight room, but during times of rest and sleep. The muscles damaged during your intense weight-training sessions the day before start to repair and rebuild while you sleep. When you are sleep deprived, you will feel fatigued and lack energy while your body tries to repair the muscle. Get at least nine hours of sleep each night, or eight hours at night and an hour nap during the day, suggests David Gluhareff, CFT.
DOMS
Delayed onset muscle soreness, DOMS, is the muscle soreness often felt one or two days following an intense workout session. DOMS is associated with actual injury to the muscle or micro-tears in the muscle fibers that are typically caused by eccentric muscle action. Eccentric muscle action is the lengthening of the muscle -- whereas, concentric muscle action is the shortening of the muscle. Examples of eccentric muscle actions include downhill running or the downward phase of the biceps curl exercise.
Tips For Reducing Fatigue and Muscle Soreness
Reduce the amount of eccentric training when starting a new exercise program. Always stretch thoroughly after an intense workout session to help reduce muscle soreness. Consume a small meal consisting of a carbohydrate and protein source within 45 minutes of exercise when your muscles are primed to absorb the nutrients. Sample meals might include fruit and whey protein shake or a potato and chicken breast or fish. Several hours later, consume another meal to continue to provide nutrients to help your body recover. Finally, allow at least 48 hours before retraining the same muscle group. Never train a muscle group if you are still sore from your previous workout.
References
- Bodybuilding.com; Stop Having Beginner Workout Blues; David Gluhareff
- "Physiology of Sport and Exercise;" Jack H. Wilmore & David L. Costill; 2004
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