Prehab And Recovery Training

 The body is an amazing thing isn't it? It has abilities that we have yet to discover and what we do know, seems to boggle the mind of some. However, as much as we know, a key thing to remember is that we're not invincible and have the ability to heal as fast like Wolverine or recover like Goku after eating a Senzu Bean. It does need its share of maintenance and fueled up right so we can function in the long run. 

Some may think Recovery work is a myth and one needs to be extreme all the time and go for record breaking workouts everyday. The truth is, being able to recover well holds benefits that actually give you long term results and gives you opportunities to learn what is possible to do without breaking down the body so much that it's not going to help you live a long and quality life. Some even try to claim Recovery is just a gym term when in reality, it's about doing what is right for your body. 

I've been training pretty hard lately; going to the gym and doing a series of thing, later on doing my 500 Rep Circuits with the band (Discount Code POWERANDMIGHT), my neck training with the Neck Flex and sometimes do Isometrics before heading off to bed. The first two things have been almost every other day for the last couple weeks and sometimes for 2-3 days straight. The circuits have been every fucking day LOL. It takes a toll so it's important to know when to back off for a couple days to let the body do it's work. No injuries or anything, just keeping myself in check. 

I'll still be doing the Circuits daily for a bit longer cause it's one of those workouts where I can have either a more explosive and fast pace session or slow it down and focus more on technique which is working for me. As for just pure Recovery work or Prehab Training, that's going to be on off days from the gym hitting up DDP Yoga for Flexibility & Mobility and my Joint Loosening Workouts as "Rechargers" so that I can still do something everyday without needing to go hard. Those gym sessions lately are fun and picking up on some stuff again after years and years away from Barbells, Rack Training & using heavier Dumbbells than there are in our Rec Center.

I did an exercise yesterday I probably haven't done since I lived in Santa Cruz and that's the Dumbbell Pullover. Did only a couple sets with nothing too heavy doing 10-12 reps respectively. It was more of getting the technique down again. I went as heavy as a 60 lb Dumbbell and was doing it in complete control. Felt great to even remember how to do it. Was also doing Animal Stuff, Trap Bar Deadlifts and Hanging Knee Pull-Ins on the Pull-up Bar in this session as well. 

This is where I feel that if I wasn't in the shape I'm in, I wouldn't be able to move around much or do anything for a week after the type of workouts I've been putting myself through. I have felt tight in a few areas and not so much sore but more on the lines of being slightly slower but that's where I love having the knowledge and being wise enough that I can't be doing this all the time and need to pace myself physically and mentally. Giving my body some "rest" from the crazy stuff and focus on doing lighter things that fuel my muscles and joints again. Those DDP Yoga type workouts are a godsend and the Joint Loosening reduces the chances of injury and soreness. The body can only do so much at a given time and going so hard so often can bite you in the ass. Hell, some pushed themselves so hard that they ended up having no Cartlidge in one of their knees and some other issues. I don't want to be living with those kinds of things, that's just misery and disaster waiting to happen. 

 The best form of recovery is Sleep, bar none. Training has its perks for sure but solid quality sleep is the ideal thing here. For some it may not be as easy with the way life can throw things at you and not everyone will have the opportunity to get optimal sleep so when that happens, do what you can to be able to sleep and recover well. Nutrition is great too when it comes to recovery because when you can get things into your body that helps muscle repairs and such, it gives you fuel to let the body work its magic. That's really the ultimate goal nutrition wise is to use it as fuel. Some overeat, some don't eat enough and others find their perfect set up whether it's the OMAD thing (One Meal A Day) like Al Kavadlo does or those eat enough in the day when they feel hungry and not stress eating. Do what's possible for you.

Prehab is an awesome aspect of knowledge to have. Knowing which areas of the body need attention (not the same as isolation exercises in bodybuilding) and being able to preserve strength and health to the ligaments, not just the muscles. Isometrics are phenomenal for Prehab Training because they target areas from a positional lock in so do speak where you're working but you're not moving. It's not just a style of strength training, it can also minimize the chances of osteoporosis and possibly arthritis.  

With some of the crazy shit I do, it still amazes me that I don't have knee pain, back pain, tendonitis or arthritis. Yeah I stiffen up every now and then and do heat and ice sometimes (rarely) but once I get moving and doing what i love, it's like being a kid again. The stiffness doesn't last long and some stretches like some of the Animal and DDP Yoga Moves open me up really damn fast. I don't pop pills or get injections or any of that crap. The only supplements I ever do take is my my spark powder which has all kinds of vitamins and minerals, hydration powder like Rehydrate and Nectar and things like Zinc or Pine Pollen. I was taking Creatine for a bit but I didn't like what it was doing to me, apparently there were effects from it that didn't suit well with me so I'm seeing how I feel from not taking it for a week or so and so far, I'm feeling pretty damn good without it. That's pretty much it and I take the bare minimum with these. 

Take care of yourself and listen to your body. You don't need to do extreme shit like some claim you should, that's just marketing bullshit and doesn't give a damn about a person's health. Everybody has to do what's needed for them and learn what works and what doesn't. There's always going to be some general idea but an 80 year old lady is not going to recover the same as a 25 year old man. It's not practical, realistic nor is it good for the body. I believe in doing something daily but it doesn't have to be a shattering world record every time. Be amazingly awesome.