HEALTH

Do you love working out but hate how sore you are the next day? Yeah, us too. Muscle fatigue is no joke and can be totally brutal the next time you want to hit the gym. If you've ever felt the pain and want to ditch it for good, here are five ways to keep your killer workout and skip the soreness.

Drink water
Chances are you probably aren't drinking enough water before or after your workout. Making sure you drink enough water will ease muscle soreness and make sure it doesn't last longer than it needs to. A good rule to follow is to drink one cup of water for every half hour of exercise. Also, be sure to hydrate during your workout as well.

Eat, eat, eat!
Make sure you eat balanced meals after a workout. Protein, carbohydrates and fats are essential for your body after intense movement. Protein aids in muscle recovery and helps to build muscle strength while carbohydrates are essential for providing fuel. Fats help to reduce inflammation in joints, thus stopping soreness in its track.

@foodieegirll

Warm Up
Take the first 5-15 minutes of your workout to stretch and loosen up your muscles before diving right in. Stretching or warming up with a walk or light jog can help get the blood flowing through your body and decrease your chance of soreness (and injury!).

Massage
Giving yourself a massage? Easier than you think. Foam rollers are a great way to do a DIY massage—plus, they can help remove build-ups of fluids that cause soreness. If you're a beginner, start with a soft foam roller and locate the area that's sore. Then, lower the targeted area onto the roller and apply pressure for 10-30 seconds at a time.

Salt Bath
Sometimes after a workout, all you want to do is treat yourself to a warm bath. But did you know that heat relaxes muscles and aids in recovery?  A salt bath is the lazy girl's way of preventing sore muscles. So run that hot water, throw in your favorite scent of Epsom salts and soak until you're sore no more.

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Slider image via @alaybowker | Top image via @alaybowker

by Alyssa Barnes | 10/20/2022