Do you always feel sleepy after workout? Well, worry not because you’re not alone. Many people have always complained about it and I think it’s time to shed some light on the issue.
There’s nothing wrong with feeling tired or sleepy after a good workout and in most cases it is an indication that you’ve worked out hard enough and the body needs to recover.
The idea of “no pain, no gain” has long been used by trainers, coaches and fitness instructors to push exhausted athletes to exercise. Although the instructors would have you believe that your body isn’t tired, your mind is telling you that your body is fatigued because you’re not accustomed to intense physical training.
Although there is no right or wrong answer, we will help you figure out why you feel sleepy after exercise.
If you always feel sleepy after a workout session, then you have poor cardiovascular fitness. Even lifting simple dumbbells can stress your cardiovascular system if done with minimal rest between each set. If you increase the intensity of your workout abruptly, it is not uncommon for you to become fatigued.
The best way to monitor your cardiovascular activity is to measure your heart rate periodically as you perform your workouts. If your heart exceeds 180 beats per minute, have some rest and drink water to hydrate your body.
Resting will allow your heart rate to drop while water will rehydrate your body thus allowing more blood to pump through your heart.
In most cases, poor technique is the cause of various issues for which other factors take the blame. Something as simple as your breathing during a dead lift can increase the level of your post-workout fatigue significantly.
Whether you are performing strength training exercises or cardio, breathing irregularly or holding your breath can cause your body muscles to function less efficiently thus requiring more energy to perform your workouts.
Performing the movements incorrectly can also cause energy depletion. A good example is, if you run with a poor technique, such as with your arms swaying wildly, can make less intense workouts feel more tiring.
So you have been going hard in the gym – working your arms, legs, shoulders, chest, and every other muscle to reach your fitness goals. But are you working too hard? Could you be over training yourself?
Yes, you might be.
We are all for going hard during workout, but since exercise break down the body muscles, constantly pushing your body and working out on back-to- back days will break you down. Here’s a basic list of signs that indicate you may be over training.
Although there are no clinical tests that can identify injuries caused by over training, don’t you think that pain in your shoulder or arm might be an indication that you should reassess how you exercise? Joint or bone aches after a workout are uncommon and when they occur, they signify a possibly over trained body.
During sleep, your body had time to cool down and repair worn out or damaged muscles. However, an over trained body is sometimes unable to cool down and completely relax making it hard to recuperate between workouts.
Numerous aspects can compromise your immune system – poor sleep habits, dietary changes, and mental stress- just to mention but a few. But what if these aspects are all stable and locked in? What if you are enjoying 8 hours of solid sleep, eating right and getting plenty of sunlight but still find yourself getting sick?
Your immune system may be suffering from the additional stress of your over training. This is an easy trap to fall into particularly because it is often the natural progression for many professional athletes looking to improve their performance.
If you have recently increased your daily exercise output, keep track of those late night sneezes and early morning sore throats. Any increases may be a tell tale sign of a weak immune system brought about by over training.
Whatever your goals are – to get stronger, increase fitness, lose weight or just feel better – the best way to achieve them is approach them surely and slowly. Well-balanced gradual increases in training are the best, but only when the body is given enough time to recover. Here is what you should do:
Overall, sleep after a workout doesn’t have to be a permanent, uncomfortable case. By figuring outwhat’s causing it and taking the necessary measures to alleviate is, you’ll be exercising comfortable soonthereafter!
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