Post workout recovery is as important as exercise itself. After any exercise, our bodies go into post workout recovery mode. Our bodies naturally have a series of systems and methods to help it recover and heal after a hard workout. Sleep is one of the most important parts of recovery. Unfortunate, the majority of us are not getting enough sleep for our body to properly recover after a hard workout. Sleep is one of the most sure-fire ways for your body to recover. It has untold benefits and can lead to better workouts in the future. Let’s break down some of the benefits sleep can have on your bodies post workout recovery.

1. Muscle Tissue

Your muscles have time to repair themselves during sleep. During the third stage of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) the body produces an anabolic hormone used to repair and grow muscles damaged during exercise. The longer you sleep the more time the body has to regenerate and repair these muscles. The National Sleep Foundation found that an extra hour of sleep can be as effective as getting a full extra night’s sleep. They recommend that adults get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night. Adults who sleep less than this, see low levels of glycogen in their bodies. This can cause amino acids to convert to adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This can inhibit muscle growth. Getting the right amount of sleep is important to growing and repairing muscles.

2. Exhaustion

This one should be a no-brainer. When you are lacking sleep, your brain doesn’t function or process things properly. This can impair your judgement. Working out while exhausted is not only bad for your muscles but can lead to injury or performing the workouts wrong. The proper amount of sleep can help your brain function properly the next day. When your brain is exhausted, it can’t remove metabolic waste from the brain cells. Sleep allows time for your brain to remove unwanted waste, improve blood flow, and improve cognitive function. All of which are important to everyday function and workout recovery.

3. Muscle Fatigue

Muscle fatigue can occur when you push your muscles into metabolic overload. This means you’ve exhausted the amount of glycogen available for energy production. There aren’t many ways to replenish your body’s stores of glycogen other than sleep. When you sleep your body converts carbohydrates from your diet and metabolizes them into glycogen your muscles use as energy. Without proper sleep your muscles will be lacking this key component to growth and will become easily fatigued.

Sleep is important to everyday function and overall health. Not enough sleep and too much exercise is bad combination that will lead to little results and over training. Give your body the rests it needs to recover and help you reach your fitness goals. At BOARD30 we believe in balanced health and wellness for the whole body. Our team of experts is here to help you every step of the way. For more information visit our website or call 505-375-4404!