First, you may be asking- what's the benefit of recovering after a workout anyway? When we workout hard, we get little tiny tears in our muscles, and recovery is when the muscles fuse back together and get stronger. If we don't allow our bodies to recovery properly, then they will continue in that broken down state which will lead to major fatigue, burn out, or even injury.
Probably the easiest (and one of the very most beneficial) ways for recovery that I have found is adding collagen to my morning coffee. I have been consuming collagen for about 2 1/2 years now I am the BIGGEST believer in this supplement. My favorite brand is BUBS Naturals Collagen Protein, I've found it to dissolve the easiest, with absolutely zero taste. I've found that it's the most convenient for me to just add one scoop to both of my cups of coffee in the morning (one pre-run and one afterward with breakfast). BUBS instantly dissolves - I never can taste or tell that it's in my cup of joe at all! If you don't drink coffee, you can add it into any hot or cold beverage or even tings like yogurt, sauces, or salad dressing!
BUBS' Collagen promotes health and healing from the inside out. It really is the best recovery tool after exercise and crucial to joint support. It's also a great source of protein and amino acids. As an added bonus, collagen also is loaded with numerous beauty benefits too such as increased skin elasticity, smoother and more radiant skin, and stronger and longer nails and hair. It's really a must have for athletes (and in my opinion, EVERYONE), especially as we age and continue to run and train at a higher intensity level.
Some of the other things I have found super beneficial for post workout recovery is eating within 30 minutes of finishing a workout. If possible I always try to make sure I have a good portion of protein with that meal too to further aide in muscle recovery. Since I exercise in the morning, my go-to recovery meals has eggs in it.
I also love hot Epsom salt baths for recovery. A good 20 minute (or longer!) soak does wonders to ease muscle soreness and promote healing. Sleep is also super important in helping to heal your body and I love a good 20-30 minute nape when my schedule allows.
I foam roll a couple times a week and try to do a handful of stretches daily to keep things loose. I keep my foam roll visible in my kids playroom so that I can just grab it and roll out my muscles - half the time they try to hop on my lap while I'm doing it, but hey, that mom life, right?
What's your favorite form of recovery?
