Confession: Every winter (without fail) I fall into a serious fitness rut.
Maybe it’s the cold, maybe it’s the shorter days, dark mornings, or maybe it’s that I just get lazy.
Whatever the reason, it happens every year.
Then, sleeveless-season rolls around and I’m suddenly jumping into daily workouts like it’s my j-o-b.
Working those painfully sore, out-of-shape muscles and retraining myself to not make the same mistakes again are always my biggest struggles.
Today, I am partnering with, Moji, creator of a new line of at-home total body massage products, to share some of those all-too-common workout mistakes we often don’t even know we’re making. (You know, besides taking the entire winter off– because that one seems obvious).
Kicking things off with a pre-workout energy snack
This first one was possibly the most shocking to me, but energy bars can actually kill your energy.
Say, whaaa? …I know!
If you are starvin’ like Marvin before you start exercising, a banana is a much better option than many of the energy bars that are available to us today.
The reason is because lots of energy bars are typically filled with fiber, which takes a ton of energy to digest– thus leaving you feeling like a slug.
Skipping the cool down
Slow, deep, mindful breathing can be an incredibly effective way to unwind and relax after a workout. Most fitness routines end with a combination of deep breathing and stretching for 3-5 minutes. Some people skip the cool down because it doesn’t burn as many calories, but it is super important for sore muscles.
Personally, I always look forward to the cool down. The release of endorphins is the most relaxing part of my day.
Moji Mini PRO | $29.99
Foregoing a hot shower
After a good workout, we’re sweaty, we smell and our activewear is a breeding ground for bacteria– a shower is a must. Kicking that shower’s temp up a notch can reduce muscle pain by increasing blood flow and relaxing the muscles.
Not massaging the muscles
Not only do massages feel incredible on tired, sore muscles, they’ve also been proven to help speed up muscle recovery.
Moji makes a variety of affordable at-home massage rollers that are handheld, portable, and travel-friendly. Massagers from the Moji PRO line can even be tossed in the FREEZER for an ICE massage, which has been proven to help reduce muscle inflammation and soreness!
Moji Foot PRO | $39.99
Forgetting to refuel
After a good workout, your body is starving! You should be refueling your body with carbs and protein within an hour after your workout. Good options for a post-workout recovery snack are:
- Peanut butter and banana
- Apples and almond butter
- Almonds
- Fruit & veggie smoothie with yogurt
- Protein shake
- Overnight Oats
- Ezekiel bread + cheese
Over-indulging
On the flip side of refueling, you don’t want to undo all the hard work you just put in!
It is easy to underestimate the number of calories you are eating or overestimate how many calories you’ve actually burned.
Rule of thumb: aim for a nutrient-dense snack (like the ones above) that is between 150-200 calories.
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About the Moji Massagers Featured In this post
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Moji Mini PRO | $29.99
The Moji Mini PRO has a larger stainless steel sphere at the top, by your fingertips, and the largest sphere is located by the heel of your hand. The top sphere provides a targeted massage, and the largest sphere (at the bottom) digs super deep when you use the heel of your hand to provide the most intense massage.
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Moji Foot PRO | $39.99
This foot massager relieves foot pain, feels awesome, and is great for Plantar Fasciitis. The Moji Foot PRO massager features high-tech engineered stainless steel spheres, which are lightweight, therefore making it a breeze to take Moji products on-the-go. The spheres dig deep into muscle and tissues to relieve pain and break up scar tissue.
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This post was sponsored by
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