Your Recipe For Recovery

After a brutal workout, MMA or Tradional MA, what do you guys do for recovery? Anything specific? Or anything at all?

Myself, I usually whip up a protien shake, take a few antioxidants, grab a shower, and plop my burnt-out arse on the couch. Doesn't seem like much.

But recovery is everything, and I'm taking a better look these days at what helps and hinders me in the dojang.

All decent suggestions will have Karma flow your way!

Try contrast showers... 2 minutes hot, 1 minute as cold as it goes

It's very painful while it's happening but it's great for you and aids recovery.

Also, getting a lot of sleep. I have at least 3 days a week where I sleep as long as my body wants. There are so many times when I'll get up after 8 hours, piss or something, then get back in bed and think "no way can I sleep more." then I'll open my eyes and 8 hours has become 9.5 and I feel awesome

ive tried EVERYTHING and i mean it

in general i think you need to have a good preworkout meal or shake first then as soon as possible you need a post workout shake with protein and carbs would help if not cutting weight.. then a big ass meal with lots of good cals from all 3 macro's

sleep is huge too ive just started realizing as i get older and older (sux) that my body will not recover as well w/o a good amount of sleep especially when training heavily

you can also play around with glutamine peptides.. ive used them and when im working out very heavily and frequently they do help you recover..

casuallbb's shower thing helps a lot but im too much of a wuss to actually do it

good luck

Judo Tom said:

you can also play around with glutamine peptides.. ive used them and when im working out very heavily and frequently they do help you recover..

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I tossed this idea around, but seeing as how probably millions of people threw thousands of dollars away when regular glutamine came out, I'm leary of spending money on a supplement based on purely anecdotal and theoretical evidence.

Judo Tom said:

casuallbb's shower thing helps a lot but im too much of a wuss to actually do it

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I've read good things about that method also, but he's the only one I've ever heard of that's crazy enough to do it. Best I was able to do the other night was hot/lukewarm

I'll get you back the K When I can.

Aw comon guys, just suck it up and try it

The first bout of cold is godawful, you're standing there shivering and hopping around like "holy shit" "oh cold... brrr, this is FREEZING" Literally after 30 seconds your body has a cold response and it stops feeling cold.

THen all the subsequent times the cold is just numbing instead of painful

okay maybe I am hardcore

casualbb: sorry but i dont believe that for a sec cold water hurts like a sob no thanks
mike: ive used the peptides at 15g 4x a day 2 pre and 2 post workout shakes and i definately felt better and it made training like that easier and i got more out of it. not a miracle but a good 'suppliment' when training very intensely.

i do sit in a whirpool for 20 mins after some workouts and i definately think that helps a good amount.

another thing ive tried that works is after a tough workout drink your protein shake while doing light cardio or walking for 20 mins and you will probably feel better as well.

edit: im watching a royler gracie vs ? miyata (some olympic freestyle wrestler)
it was a great fight first round had some great action and miyata gets saved by the bell as he was caught in an armbar from roylers triangle. then in the 2nd round royler finishes him with a triangle choke. but it was not 1 sided at all royler took about 20 shots to the face, got slammed on his head 2x really bad and almost lost by ko or tko a few times but he did pull it off....

I've done 15+ minutes of a cold-only shower, with the window open.. in winter. =p

Nobody has mentioned one of the oldest cures: Massage.

Eat, Hot shower, rub liniment on all the sore spots, crawl in bed, place a bag of ice on each knee and shoulder as neccessary, fall asleep, have wife/girlfriend remove ice bags once you are out.

A relaxing massage or oral sex.

Not being a smart ass but sex really helps me after a tough workout.
I eat, have a hot shower and screw. Relaxes me and I feel much better than if I don't have sex.