Fall is the most popular time of year for people to get back into the gym. Kids are back at school, the days are getting shorter and colder and many people are raring to get back into shape. Unfortunately, this is also the most popular time of year for people to hurt themselves by doing too much too fast. Going to the gym 7 days a week after sitting on the beach all summer is a recipe for injury.
Acupuncture is a great complement to your fitness routine by increasing your energy, improving your sleep and helping you recover and heal, both after workouts and after injury.
The first 2 items are very related-- when you don't sleep well, or enough, you won't have enough energy to work out properly. Coffee and other stimulants can work short term, but shouldn't be part of a long term health routine. Coffee and stimulants encourage the body to release adrenaline so that you have "more energy," but long term this strategy actually leaves you more tired and depleted than when you started. One true solution to having more energy is getting more, good quality sleep. For 7 tips for better sleep, click here.
Not only will good sleep give you more energy, but it will also help you recover more quickly after exercise. Sleep is when the body repairs itself, from injury, from illness and even from daily wear and tear. Exercise creates microtears in the muscles. When you are asleep, the body heals the microtears and you become stronger. Prolonged soreness after exercise (more than 2 or so days) is a sign that you either REALLY overdid it and you might be injured, or you are not getting sufficient sleep to heal your body.
When microtears become macrotears, that's when you know you've hurt yourself. Acupuncture, Cupping/Gua Sha and Moxibustion are all ways to encourage the body to heal itself. The healing nutrients in the body are in the blood stream, so by encouraging blood flow to the injured area, the healing process can begin and the pain subsides. There is a saying in Traditional Chinese Medicine: When there is pain, there is no free flow; when there is free flow, there is no pain. Acupuncture encourages the free flow of Qi, blood and fluids so that the body can heal itself. DO NOT ICE! Ice and NSAIDS (non-steriodal anti-inflammatories) actually slow the healing process by slowing blood flow and reducing inflammation. Inflammation is actually okay for an acute injury (chronic inflammation is something else) because it signals the brain that there is an injury that needs tending. Inflammation is similar to a fever in that way. A fever is your body's attempt at killing the virus or bacteria that is making you sick. When you reduce a fever (unless it is over 103.5 degrees F--always reduce high fevers), you are impairing the body's ability to fight off whatever illness is causing the fever. For more on Sports Injuries, click here.
Finally, good food is important to support your gym efforts. You can't exercise away a bad diet. Food should nourish your body and give you proper fuel to get through your day. Drinking enough water and eating sufficient protein is also important for repairing the body after exercise. "Dieting" is not a good way to lose weight; it typically restricts calories which slows metabolism and is temporary, creating temporary weight loss. Eating a balanced, whole food diet is the best way to feel good and get to a healthy weight for you. "Ripped" and "healthy" are not always the same. Setting goals that bring you toward health is the best way to help you feel better, for the long term, in your body and mind.
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