Let's talk about the importance of sleep. I've been struggling with my sleep the past couple of weeks. The quality is not there, I wake up, I can't fall back to sleep and it's been bothering me for a few weeks now. So recently, the past couple of days all of a sudden my sleep quality has really increased. I typically track in on my Fitbit. Your Fitbit will track your sleep quality based on your heart rate how many times you move and wake up throughout the night.

So the past couple of days my sleep has drastically improved. I'm sleeping thru the night, I don't wake up, I'm sleeping like a rock. And I thought about it and I was like "Oh my gosh! I've recently increased my carbs" So I was on very low carbs for a few weeks trying to just do a mini cut and now I've increased my carbs and I'm like "That is it! That is the one change that I've made" So if you are low carb, if you're keto, if you've been on a low-carb diet or low-calorie diet for a really long time and you're finding that...

When it comes to your metabolism, another key component is rest and recovery. Now I know most people will be like, "that doesn't seem like it's important." But that is a vital aspect of your metabolism.

As you're working out, and you're trying to build muscle, and you're running, you're doing all the things, it's really important that you get adequate amount of sleep and also look for ways to engage in active recovery. That could mean more long walks, yoga, pilates -- different ways where you continue get movement, but you're not stressing your body.

Why is that important? Rest and recovery are not only important for muscle building, but key for hormonal health. Cortisol, the stress hormone, spikes after an intense workout. So it's super important to look for ways to calm yourself down. There's active recovery and there's also things like massage, meditation, breath work, stretching, going to the sauna, going to a steam room --all of these things aid in recovery and bringing your...

Originally posted on Slumber Yard

When you are regularly working out, you don’t always have the luxury of an extended recovery time. It’s common for people to spring an injury during workouts, only to have to power through the injury without giving themselves adequate time to heal. 

Of course, there’s nothing better than sinking into the best mattress, but few people realize how much sleep can aid in muscle recovery. There are many flashy, expensive solutions out there to help improve sleep and reduce injury: supplements and therapies, machines and at-home systems. Some of these are effective, and some are not, but don’t underestimate the value of good old-fashioned sleep. 

At the end of the day, your body needs rest so it can recoup and rebuild. This is why you should never underestimate the power of sleep, especially when you are working out.

Sleep Stages For Muscle Recovery

Sleep plays a major role in helping your body recover after a long...