In most cases, there’s no point in reinventing the wheel. Despite what our mommies, daddies, and teachers told us, most of us are not unique.
Most of us fall into documented and verified ranges that fit neatly on charts, whether physical body types, situational athletic performance, behavior, and even mortality. Why spend countless hours trying to be completely original in your training methods of other people who are mare successful have already proven various methods that work well. Weekend warriors and aspiring athletes can look at what pro athletes do and mimic regimens closely related to their own training.
So, with this in mind, today, let’s talk about recovery.
Sleep it Off
If you played baseball as a kid, you probably heard your coach say, ‘rub slime dirt on it and walk it off.” Well, if you look at the very best, highest performing athletes in the world, most of them have one thing in common: they get plenty of quality rest.
Aaron Rodgers recently increased his sleep to ensure that he gets roughly 8-hours per night. It’s paying off because the Packers have started the season 3-0 that not a small achievement to do, we are talking about a sport that has a relatively short season, every win counts more that you could imagine, no surprise seeing the Packers on top of the odds board for the NFC Nort Division. Then we have Lebron James who says that he sleeps for around 12 hours per day. He likes to create a sleep-friendly environment to get around 10 hours per night, plus a couple of napping hours during the day. The same goes for multiple-time world champion Roger Federer. International soccer icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo also get upwards of 12 hours of sleep per day. Ronaldo likes to aim for 8-hours at night, then multiple naps per day (up to five!).
Sleep is more important than most of us think. We think about it as simply leaving us tired and unable to focus as well as we should be able. However, a handful of things happen on cellular and hormonal levels while we saw logs. The brain itself repairs and regrows cells. Our neurons also get recharged so that all of those electrical signals actually fire correctly throughout the day. Hormone levels are regulated, and we even release immune-modulating hormones and growth hormones that help damaged tissue to repair.
In short, don’t sleep on getting enough sleep. It’s better for your body than any cryo-chamber or ice bath.
Keep It Cool
Speaking of cryo-chambers and ice baths … Players in the NFL have been using cold treatments to reduce inflammation directly after games to help speed up their recovery. The idea is that the ice bath helps reduce acute inflammation and temporarily changes the way blood and fluids move throughout the body. Essentially, everything contracts, and your body redirects blood to keep your internal organs warm. When you get our of the ice bath or cryo-unit, your blood vessels quickly dilate, allowing blood to rush back to your extremities, which flushes out metabolic waste.
Methylate with DMG
DMG or N, N Dimethylglycine has been around for quite a long time. The thing is, most regular consumers have never heard of it. It was originally called vitamin B15 and is widely attributed to the Soviet Union’s Olympic dominance during the 70s and 80s.
The benefits of DMG start with the fact that it’s a powerful methyl donor that helps on a cellular level with mitochondrial function and oxygen utilization. Scientists first took not back in the 60s and early 70s when by adding it to the diets of thoroughbred racehorses, the animals taking DMG started finishing their races stronger.
“DMG is valuable in sports medicine practices for athletes and patients seeking greater endurance because it improves muscle recovery after strenuous activity. The supplement supports lung function and oxygen exchange, reducing fatigue and increasing energy. It also encourages efficient energy production and drives cellular reactions, so the body works more effectively.” – Dr. Adam Kilpartrick of Food Science Industries.
So, now you have three ways to speed up your recovery after training, and they are simple, effective, and affordable.