Why Am I So Tired After Weight Training?
If you’ve been doing resistance training or weight training for a while now, you know that you’d normally feel some tiredness. After all, you’ve engaged your muscles and pushed through that workout. However, it’s important to differentiate between normal tiredness and excessive tiredness, to the point where you badly want to take a nap.
If working out makes you feel more tired than usual, this article lists some possible reasons and what you can do about them.
You haven’t fueled properly.
Athletes like pro cheerleaders need the right nutrients in order to make the most of their performance outdoors or at the gym. Your pre-workout fuel can affect your body’s ability to recover after a workout. If you feel so exhausted, you’ve probably skipped breakfast or depleted all your glycogen stores and didn’t eat anything prior to working out.
Pre-workout protein sources like whey protein, eggs, salmon, and Greek yogurt are healthy options. When it comes to carbs, oatmeal and bananas are great as well. In case you can’t eat anything because you’re in a hurry, at least take a supplement like caffeine, beta-alanine, or branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).
You lacked sleep.
Being sleep-deprived can negatively affect your workout the following day. Not to mention, it decreases your mental performance and can even make you crave unhealthy foods. According to a research study, getting at least 7 hours of sleep enables you to exercise longer and harder. This is why it’s vital to strive to get quality sleep.
Try to check how many hours of sleep you’ve had. If you’ve been sleeping for less than 6 hours consistently, you need to rethink your sleep routine and make some adjustments.
You’ve exercised at a different time of the day.
We’ve heard the advice of starting your day with a workout. In fact, some articles talk about the benefits of getting that 5 am workout done. But let’s face it — this doesn’t work for some people. Exercising in the evening (after office work) doesn’t work well for others either.
It’s important to listen to your body. Exercise at a time when you’re physically and mentally ready. Pay attention to how you’re feeling. If you’re more active and alert at 9 am, then lift weights at 9 am. If that’s not possible, identify another time where you can make it happen.
You’re dehydrated.
Water is essential for your body to function at its best. If you’re going to be active for less than an hour, take water. However, if it’s going to last for over an hour, consider taking a drink with electrolytes — preferably one that also contains carbohydrates to fill your glycogen stores.
Final Thoughts
In summary, proper sleep, the right schedule, nutrition, and hydration are keys to optimal workout performance and feeling good after your sessions. In rare cases, post-workout fatigue can be a sign of a medical condition, so you should always check with your doctor if you suspect it.
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