How to reward yourself after a tough workout
A really tough workout can be quite exhausting, physically and mentally, so it’s always nice to reward yourself for your hard work. Knowing there’s a reward at the end can provide some incentive and motivation to push yourself and test your limits. At the same time, there’s no point reaching for something which is going to undo any of the good you’ve just done. Here are just a few ways you can reward yourself in a healthy yet indulgent way.
Enjoy a healthy snack
One of the nicest things to do post-workout is to enjoy a healthy snack which will put some energy back into your body and help your muscles recover. Carbohydrates are important after exercise, so you could think about preparing some roasted sweet potato or butternut squash beforehand to eat after your workout. Plantain fried in coconut oil or a coconut milk, fruit and nut butter smoothie could also be a go-to. For protein to help muscle recovery, consider pre-cooking some lean meat, hard boil some eggs or whip up a nice tuna salad, all of which pack a protein punch.
Rehydrate with something tasty
Rehydration is important after a tough workout, but you might want something a little more interesting than water. As well as blitzing up your own smoothies, you could make a ‘mocktail’ of berries, mint, cucumber and watermelon in sparkling water and jazz it up by adding a splash of apple or orange juice. Get experimental with your ingredients – it’s a fun and healthy way to treat yourself to something refreshing. For a quick on the go solution, you can also grab an Oak chocolate milk from the fridge, as it contains fat, protein and tangible carbohydrates which boosts your recovery as it fuels your body.
Keep a journal of your success
Sometimes a little period of self-reflection can be reward enough. You might want to set aside a little time just to document what you achieved during your workout. Which goals did you smash? How happy did you feel with your performance? What’s the next challenge? Thinking about how well you did gives you more motivation for the next workout, so it’s well worth keeping a fitness journal to remind yourself how far you’ve come.
Take a nap
A nap is a chance for your body to bounce back and recover, so there’s no shame in curling up on the sofa for a bit. In order not to mess with your body’s natural sleep pattern, it’s best to keep your nap to under an hour. That’s long enough to give you an energy boost without the risk of not being tired at your usual bedtime.
Work Hard – Train Hard – Play Hard.
Have a little ‘me time’
As a final way to reward yourself, engage in something else you enjoy. That could be taking a soak in the bath, sticking on the next episode of that boxset, or getting stuck into one of your other hobbies. However, you choose to indulge, give yourself the headspace and distraction to ignore any aching muscles or fatigue you might be feeling.
Excercise better – not less.
Rewarding yourself is an important part of your fitness regime because it fires you up with the drive to get back to it next time. However you choose to relax, your mind and body will thank you for it.
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