The Importance Of Ample Rest In Bodybuilding

You may know that the four essential elements of our survival are oxygen, water, food, and sleep — in that order. While sleep is at the bottom of that list, it is still essential. Without the proper sleep, as a bodybuilder, you won't get very far.

There are essentially two types of fatigue — physical and mental — and as a bodybuilder you will eventually suffer from both without the proper amount of rest. Sleep is a vital part of the recovery process after the muscles — including the brain — have been worked and put to the test.

You may think that you can fight fatigue and be okay. It is true that you can go without sleep for many days, but the fact is that you will remain fatigued — whether physically or mentally or both — until you're body has had a chance to rest.

Many bodybuilders hear about catabolic happening when their bodies are asleep. This is essentially a wasting of muscles, and as such, bodybuilders tend to want to avoid sleep. This is a huge mistake! Don't allow any product marketers to warn you that sleep is dangerous for bodybuilders. That kind of information could kill you!

What is actually happening when you go to sleep is a repair job. The muscles that you have worked throughout the day are actually repairing themselves — because you are actually damaging them when you stretch them the way that you do. What you will find after a nights repair — sleep — is that you are more easily able to lift weight, and you have more energy.

Make absolutely certain that you are getting eight to ten hours of rest a night. If you aren't, try working out about three to four hours before bedtime to burn off excess energy. Avoid caffeinated foods and drinks about six hours before bedtime, and also have a small snack right before bed so that hunger doesn't wake you up too early.

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