For some, going into a room to sweat after completing a sweat-inducing workout seems counterintuitive, but saunas have some great health benefits. Heat therapy has been used to relax and loosen muscles after exercise, making saunas a perfect after-workout companion. As you consider whether you should spend some time in a sauna after your workout, find out more about the benefits of saunas and some safety tips for using them.
Let’s clear up a common misconception from the start: self-care is not synonymous with selfishness. In fact, it’s the opposite of that. In order to do your job, attend school, connect with friends and care for family, you have to care for yourself first. International Self-Care Day, which takes place on July 24th, acknowledges the importance of charging your physical, mental and emotional batteries and reminds us that self-care is an ongoing practice.
Your fitness goals need fuel, and the fuel most likely to help you keep your fitness goals on track is the one you make yourself. Research from Johns Hopkins University found that people who cooked their own dinner 6 to 7 times a week consumed fewer calories, fat and sugar on an average day compared to those who only cooked dinner once a week. Regularly preparing a meal after a jam-packed day can feel daunting, but meal planning can eliminate a lot of that hassle and keep you away from convenience foods that could compromise the gains you’ve been making at the gym.
We don’t want to see you breaking a sweat every day of the week. No, we’re not April fooling you. If you want to make gains, you should build in rest days and active recovery into your workout routine. Without a little bit of both, overtraining can actually set you back by leaving you perpetually sore and fatigued. It can even lead to injury. So what’s the difference between a rest day and active recovery, and when should you deploy them? Let’s get into it.