Rest and Nutrition
Alyssa Dietris

Two elements of any effective workout routine are proper nutrition and adequate rest. In order for your body to function properly you need to make sure that these two vital requirements are being met. Without them the body can not function at it fullest potential.

Although it is wise to cut out some of the empty calories that we intake each day, the body still needs fuel in order to keep going. Starting the day off properly is the first step. One of the most important meals of the day is breakfast. A common mistake made by many is they get too busy to eat a nutritious breakfast, this is bad. Eating a well rounded breakfast meal helps to jump start your metabolism by breaking the night long fast. People who fail to eat breakfast tend to eat more throughout the day, which leads to weight gain.

Rather than eat three large meals every day, in order to keep our metabolism going we should eat four to six small well balanced meals a day. These six small meals should be spaced three hours apart. By filling your body with small healthy meals throughout the day, you help to fight off hunger and decrease your likelihood of snacking on unhealthy options. You also decrease your likelihood of overeating during your meals. Eating more meals throughout the day does not mean that you are consuming more food each day; you are simply spreading out your existing meals. Your mini meals should consist of a protein, a healthy carbohydrate, and a small amount of fat in order to keep your body performing properly.

Sleep is an important element in any fitness routine as well. Not getting a sufficient amount of sleep can lead to a decrease in energy, and health in general. You bones and muscles need rest after an intense workout, and without it they will not perform properly. The average adult needs 7 to 8.5 hours of sleep to be at their peak performance. It is a good idea to plan out your fitness routine, as well as your resting time when you schedule out your day.

If you are involved in weight training, you should include a day off between each weight lifting session. The body needs this time to repair and heal muscles. Without the proper amount of rest your muscles are injured more easily. Injuries like this need time to heal, and can often lead to fitness derailment.

Your body needs the proper maintenance in order to reach its fullest potential. Providing your body with the proper nutrition, and the proper amount of rest will definitely help you achieve this. Getting the proper amount of rest will only enhance your performance, and make you feel much better. With out these two essential elements, your exercise routine will not be very successful. Although you may see results in the beginning, your body will eventually show signs of stress. So, in order to keep your performance top notch, make sure that you get enough rest and the proper nutrition.

About the Author: Alyssa Dietris is passionate about every aspect of exercise and fitness. She feels that if you keep your workouts fresh and fun you will continue to work out. If you are looking for an intense home work out that has been used to train professional athletes she suggests trying out the Insanity Workout by Shaun T, or the Slim in 6 Workout for ladies.