One of the hardest things about keeping a regular workout schedule is mo
tivation. When you go to bed, you probably have plenty of motivation for your workout the next day. But then tomorrow becomes today, and your motivation has gone from “highly motivated” to “non-existent”. Here’s some things you can do the night before your workout to not only keep you motivated the next day, but also have a better workout as well!
Better Workout – Tip #1: Get a Good Night’s Sleep
If you’re feeling tired, groggy, or stressed, your workout will suffer. When hitting the snooze alarm, or having an extra cup of coffee sounds better than getting a good workout in, that’s a good sign you’re sleep has been suffering. What’s worse – is knowing that once you do a good workout, it actually energizes you and helps get you going for the day. Getting a good night’s sleep not only helps you deal with stress, but it cuts back on the cortisol levels in your body that actually keeps you from loosing weight! And, if you’re rested, you’re also less likely to injure yourself in your workout – research by the University of Missouri has shown that long term stress doubles your chance of injury.
Better Workout – Tip #2: Have a Small Snack Before Bedtime
When you’re sleeping, that’s the time your body recovers and rebuilds itself from the previous day’s activities. And, if you find yourself waiting up earlier than you’d like, yet you still feel tired, it may be because when your body runs out of glycogen in your liver (that’s what your body processes out of your food to feed & fuel your muscles) – your body kicks in some adrenaline, which can wake you out of a deep sleep. Try a small snack of a combination of carbs and protein, like some Greek yogurt with a sprinkle of granola or quinoa about two hours before bedtime (if you snack any closer to bedtime than 2 hours, you may have indigestion). This can give your body that little bit of fuel that can help you sleep through the night, while also fueling your body’s rebuilding mechanisms.
Better Workout – Tip #3: Stay Hydrated
Many people avoid drinking any liquids before bedtime so they don’t have to get up in the middle of the night. But, if you have 8-16 oz of water two hours before bedtime (you can time it with your snack) – you’ll stay hydrated yet still have a chance to pee before going to bed. When you’re dehydrated, you not only can become irritable, but it can kill your performance the next day during your workout – and, having that bit of water before bedtime can also help drop your core temperature, helping you fall asleep faster & sleep better!
Fitness 4 Home Superstore has a full inventory of Arizona’s best fitness equipment. Whether you’re looking for strength equipment, cardio equipment, or fitness accessories, stop into any of our 3 Phoenix locations and find what will work best for your home workouts!
