You know the feeling...you wake up, roll out of bed and everything in your body is stiff, sore, and tired. No wonder you would rather stay in bed!
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Achiness is NOT a consequence of age...it is a consequence of lifestyle. So, if we make a few key changes to our lives, we can make a BIG difference in how we feel in the morning.
How to Stop the Morning Aches and Pains
To help you feel at your best when you first get up, here are the three things you should focus on:
1) Adjust how you sleep
I want you to try something. Lie down on the floor, on your side, for 8 hours. Now get up. How does everything feel?
Sore? Of course!
Why? Because to lie on your side (or stomach for that matter) you have to contort your body and limbs into odd positions. If you are on your side, one leg is either in front or behind the other and your arms are in all types of directions.
So what can you do? The first thing to do is see if you can sleep on your back...it is much easier on your body. If you cannot, side sleeping WITH PILLOWS is optimal.
Use a pillow to support your legs and make sure the pillow you use for your head is firm enough that your neck isn’t kinked.
Stomach sleeping is rough because of the strain it puts on the neck, so if you can at least transition to a side sleeping position with pillows, you will be better off.
2) Adjust your nightly eating routine
If you are like most people, night is when eating “clean” becomes the most challenging.
There are all sorts of temptations available to you -- alcohol, going out to dinner, late night snacks, desserts, etc.
These are all inflammatory and will impact your feelings of stiffness. In fact, a lot of aches and pains are directly related to eating inflammatory foods and when you start cutting them out, you will see a significant change in your pains.
So, if you want to feel better in the morning, try to incorporate some of these anti-inflammatory foods into your dinner:
- Chard
- Bok Choy
- Celery
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Blueberries
- Pineapple
- Fish
- Broth
- Coconut Oil
It should go without saying that AVOIDING inflammatory foods is also important!
3) Adjust how you move
Did you know that you are not supposed to be super sore every time you work out? I know, I know, you are probably thinking...but I LIKE feeling sore. It’s how I know I got a good workout!
The problem is that soreness is an indication of overtraining. Now, a little soreness is fine, but I know lots of people who need to feel beat up after every session and this is just not good for the body.
Over time, your recovery will get worse and worse, and you will develop chronic aches and pains that will not go away until you dial back your training.
If you are not an over-exerciser, then not moving enough can very well be an issue. The body was made to move, and so doing something every day to keep active is key.
That could be walking, stretching, or playing a sport, but the key is to keep moving even if it is not what would be considered “exercise”.
Conquering Your Aches and Pains
When it comes down to it, aches and pains in the morning should be seen as an action signal. Your body is telling you that something is wrong!
So if you want to feel better in the morning, start by making an adjustment in one of these three areas and see if it helps you feel better.
And if you need help adjusting your eating or your movement, we are here to help! Mint Condition Fitness is the leading personal training studio in Los Gatos for successful men and women to get their bodies back and become the best version of themselves.
Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start when making changes, so if you feel like you need help, I would like to invite you to join us for our ONE WEEK TRIAL at our fitness studio in downtown Los Gatos.
This program includes everything you need to kick start your exercise program:
- Our comprehensive fitness consultation
- Our 21-Point Fitness Evaluation
- A personalized exercise program
- Two one-on-one personal training sessions
- Two metabolic group training sessions
- A fun environment you actually want to come back to!
If you would like to learn more, call us at (408) 370-1739 or follow this link:
Learn how we have helped other people just like you...read our reviews HERE.
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