With the holiday season in full swing, finding the perfect Christmas gift for everyone on your list can feel like an overwhelming task. You want something meaningful, memorable, and—most importantly—something that will have a lasting impact. While traditional gifts like gadgets and clothing are always appreciated, this year, why not give a gift that offers personal growth, fitness, and confidence?
Martial arts classes check all those boxes, making them the perfect gift for anyone, no matter their age or lifestyle. Whether you’re shopping for your kids, your spouse, a close friend, or even a parent, martial arts classes are a unique and thoughtful way to say, “I care about your health, happiness, and future.” Here’s why martial arts classes are the best Christmas gift for everyone on your list.
Health and Fitness Benefits for All Ages
In today’s world, staying active and maintaining physical health is more important than ever. Martial arts classes are a fun and engaging way to get in shape while learning valuable skills. From improving cardiovascular health and strength to increasing flexibility and coordination, martial arts offer a well-rounded fitness regimen that benefits practitioners of all ages.
For Kids: martial arts provide an excellent way to develop motor skills, build strength, and improve overall fitness in a structured environment.
For Adults: martial arts classes are a fantastic way to stay in shape, reduce stress, and learn self-defense techniques that improve confidence and physical wellness.
For Older Adults: martial arts offers low-impact training that promotes balance, flexibility, and mental clarity, all while providing a supportive community of like-minded individuals.
A Boost to Mental Health and Confidence
Martial arts isn’t just about physical strength—it’s about developing mental strength too. The discipline, focus, and perseverance learned in martial arts classes can have a profound impact on your mental well-being. Whether you’re giving this gift to a child, a teenager, or an adult, they will experience increased confidence, self-discipline, and resilience. Here’s how:
Confidence and Self-Esteem: Learning martial arts gives students the chance to see their progress firsthand, boosting self-esteem with every new belt rank earned.
Stress Relief: Physical activity in martial arts helps release endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals, which are perfect for reducing stress and boosting mood.
Mental Focus: The concentration required in martial arts helps develop a sharp mind, teaching students to set goals, focus on tasks, and tackle challenges head-on.
Martial arts classes foster a mindset of perseverance and personal growth, making them the perfect gift for anyone who could use a little boost in confidence or mental clarity.
A Fun and Unique Experience
In a world where material gifts often fade or lose their appeal, martial arts classes provide a unique, ongoing experience that goes far beyond a one-time present. It’s an opportunity to step into a world of discipline, camaraderie, and challenge—something that can’t be wrapped up in a box.
For kids: Martial arts classes can be incredibly exciting and fun. The structured environment helps children learn important life skills like respect, responsibility, and teamwork, all while having fun.
For adults: Whether someone is new to fitness or already active, martial arts offer a fresh, exciting challenge that combines workout with learning. It’s a gift that will keep them coming back for more, and they’ll be thankful for it long after the holiday season is over.
Instead of gifting something that may lose its value over time, martial arts classes offer a gift that keeps on giving, making it an investment in health, fitness, and personal development.
A Gift That Keeps Them Engaged All Year
One of the best things about martial arts is that it’s not a one-time event—it’s a commitment that stretches out for months, even years. This makes martial arts classes the perfect Christmas gift, especially for someone who has a hard time sticking to New Year’s resolutions or staying consistent with fitness goals.
Goal Setting: Martial arts practitioners constantly set and achieve new goals, from earning new belts to mastering complex techniques. Every class offers a new challenge and a sense of accomplishment.
Ongoing Learning: Unlike many gifts that may be used a few times and then set aside, martial arts classes provide continual learning and progress. They will have a full year of growth ahead of them.
As a gift, this ongoing commitment ensures they’ll stay engaged, motivated, and constantly improving, long after the holiday season has passed.
A Family-Friendly Activity
Martial arts is a great gift for families because it provides an opportunity for parents and children to bond over shared activities. Many martial arts schools offer family discounts or classes that accommodate students of all ages and skill levels. This means you can enroll the whole family and enjoy training together, supporting each other’s progress along the way. Whether you’re all attending a class on the same night or scheduling separate classes, it’s a fantastic way for families to spend quality time together.
Learn Valuable Self-Defense Skills
Another huge benefit of martial arts training is that it teaches practical self-defense skills. In a world where safety and personal security are increasingly important, learning how to defend oneself is an invaluable life skill. This makes martial arts classes an especially meaningful gift for older teens and adults, empowering them to feel more confident in potentially dangerous situations.
Self-defense skills go hand-in-hand with the discipline and respect that are core tenets of martial arts training, providing both practical tools and valuable life lessons.
Conclusion
This holiday season, consider giving the gift of martial arts. Whether you’re shopping for children, adults, or even seniors, martial arts classes offer a wide range of benefits that go beyond the typical presents under the tree. From improving fitness and mental health to building confidence and self-defense skills, martial arts is a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year.
So, this Christmas, why not give a gift that inspires, challenges, and empowers your loved ones to become the best version of themselves? No matter who’s on your list, martial arts classes are an experience they’ll cherish for years to come.
Ready to join our martial arts community? It’s easy to GET STARTED.
We’ve all been there. We start the new year with the best of intensions to lose weight, get fit, eat healthier….the list goes on and on. But then it happens. Life throws us a curve ball. We slip. We delay. We procrastinate. We give up. Why does motivation always seem so fleeting?
Guess what– even the most driven, successful people on the planet don’t feel like getting things done all the time. You might ask, “well, how are they still successful?”
When we look deeper into what motivation is, we see that it’s actually the driving force behind discipline. It’s what carries us from our goal to our accomplishment. In other words, motivation is wanting to get things done.
But when we’re exhausted, and we’re stressing over all the little things we have to do… that motivation and drive fades. So, what can we do to reignite that spark of motivation?
Here are three simple ways to hack your motivation and stay (or get back) on track:
Know Your “Why”
The number one motivation hack is knowing your “why”. When your goals have deep, personal meaning and purpose, it’s so much easier to stick it out when things get challenging. “I want to get fit.” Great goal…but why? “So that I can be a good example for my kids”. See the difference?
So…what’s your “why”? The reason behind your goal? Figure it out. Write it down. Post it somewhere you can see it every day. This is the influence that keeps you moving forward. This is what feeds and fuels your motivation. Remember, our goals are not just about achieving something, but about the person we want to become.
Habit Bundling
Building new, sustainable habits can be challenging. We tend to think more about eliminating “bad habits” first. “I have to stop eating fast-food.” Or “I have to stop spending all weekend on the couch binging my favorite show.” But, experts agree that rather than eliminating habits that don’t serve us or our new goals, it’s better to replace our old habits with new, more beneficial habits. Easier said than done, right? Fortunately, there’s a hack for this one, too. It’s called habit bundling. And it’s all about establishing a pattern or routine to help you reach your goal.
For example, “When I decide to pick-up fast food, I will go for a 20 minute walk or run.” Or “Every time I start a new episode of [insert whatever binge-worthy show here], I will do 20 push ups.” The trigger of “when I do this, then I will do that” removes the forced ‘I have to do this’ need for motivation, and becomes a standard practice over time. Repeated behaviors like this can turn into self-improving habits. “Instead or ordering fast food, I’ll go for a 20 minute run or walk and then head home for a healthy dinner.” The best part? It increases productivity while reducing mental stress.
Plan for Failure
Yes, you read that right. We all know it’s ideal to reach our goals flawlessly and in a timely manner. But, life frequently seems to have other plans. Staying motivated when difficulty arises is a lot more challenging than it sounds – especially if we get into a groove and an unwanted interruption occurs. Say you’ve been intentionally going for your daily run and eating all the whole foods with plenty of veggie (yay, you!). Then a hard freeze hits. You take a week off from running due to the frozen conditions and all of a sudden you’re having potato chips for breakfast and ice cream for a late night snack. Now,you’re frustrated, confused, stressed out, and losing focus on your goals. Sometimes, we can get so thrown off that we hyper-focus on the issue (I failed) rather than the solution (how can I get back on track?).
So, how do you stay on track when stuff hits the fan? Plan for failures and imperfection. Seriously. You have to drill failure into your practice. We can’t predict everything that could possibly go wrong– but expecting setbacks and knowing your alternative options when disaster strikes makes all the difference in your motivation. When you accept that life can (and will) interrupt your plans, you can keep the momentum going anyway. You can approach your tasks without being deflated. You’ll be more realistic about what you can achieve, learn how to make adjustments, and stay open to exploring other options. Don’t be afraid to plan for failure. Embrace it as a tool for staying motivated and achieving your goals. Flexibility is the path of least resistance.
Ultimately, being a motivated person just means that you’re in control of your life (despite old habits and possible set-backs). Remember, you’re fully capable of making the necessary changes in your life to achieve your goals. And you deserve to live the life you want. Take small steps, one day at a time, and before you know it, you’ll be celebrating your success. You’ve got this.
Ready to join our martial arts community and fuel your motivation even more? It’s easy to GET STARTED.
There’s no shortage of fitness tips out there. Don’t believe me? Just scroll through social media. It’s common for well-meaning people to innocently spread misinformation when it comes to fitness. While it may seem harmless, buying in to false fitness tips can lead to physical burnout or even injury. So, how do we avoid falling for fitness myths?
We’re debunking three of the most popular fitness myths to keep you focused and well-informed as you work towards your fitness goals.
1. “No pain, no gain”
When it comes to fitness, ever hear the phrase “no pain, no gain”? This phrase is commonly used to push an athlete harder during their workout. Don’t get us wrong, challenging yourself occasionally is a great thing! But, doing it too often can lead to potential soft-tissue injuries and even set you back when it comes to making progress towards your fitness goals. In fact, training too hard can make it more difficult for your muscles to recover properly. It can also effect your mood, your sleep cycle, and even hinder your immune system. The best approach is to slowly increase the intensity of your training, rather than over-doing it all at once.
2. “Fasting before your workout helps you loose weight faster”
The idea of doing fasted cardio, or exercising on an empty stomach, is that you’ll burn more fat because your body is using stored fat as energy instead of glucose.
While you may initially burn more calories by doing fasted cardio, at the end of the day, it doesn’t make a huge difference. This is because weight loss really comes down to your total daily caloric intake. If your goal is to lose weight, being in a caloric deficit is far more important than whether you exercise fasted or not. In fact, research has shown that there is no significant difference in weight loss between those who fasted before their cardio workout and those who did not.
The best bet is to listen to your body. If you discover you feel better when you exercise on an empty stomach and are in good health, there’s nothing wrong with doing fasted cardio. However, you may find that fueling up before some types of training, like strength training, is a better option to prevent you from experiencing fatigue during your workout. Always check with your primary care physician first, especially if you’re pregnant, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other underlying medical issues.
3.” If you’re sore, then you had a good workout”
A common misconception is that being sore after a workout means you had a good training session. Typically, when we experience muscle soreness, it’s because we’ve tried a new exercise or pushed ourselves harder than normal during a workout. This type of soreness is called delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS. DOMS leaves our muscles inflamed, tender, and tight. This discomfort typically lasts 24 to 48 hours after your workout. While DOMS can generally resolve on its own, using a foam roller can aid in faster recovery.
So, what’s the best way to gauge if you had a good workout? Experts agree that evaluating your performance during your workout sessions is a much better indicator. So, if you’re able to lift more or do more reps during your next workout session, you’re on the right track. Even better, as you adapt to a workout routine, the soreness you experience will lessen which will keep you on track with your training and progress.
Ready to bust the fitness myths and start training smarter? At Invictus, we help you do just that! And it’s easy to GET STARTED.
A common desire for most martial artists is to increase their strength and performance. Many martial artists incorporate strength and conditioning exercises in their training sessions. But did you know that you can feel stronger through stretching? It’s true! You can actually stretch yourself strong.
You’ve undoubtedly heard how important it is to stretch. When we stretch consistently, we maintain our mobility and overall strength. Here are a few ways stretching makes us stronger:
Joints: stronger joints yield improved range of motion
Ligaments: stronger ligaments increase stability
Muscles: stronger muscles help us with better balance
Body: stronger bodies help lower our risk of injury
There are three basic ways to feel stronger through stretching: dynamic, static, and assisted stretching.
Dynamic Stretching
Dynamic stretching uses controlled movements that prepare your muscles, ligaments and other soft tissues for performance and injury prevention. This type of stretching improves speed, agility, and acceleration of movement. As such, dynamic stretches are ideal for pre-workout warm-up. Examples of dynamic stretches include arm circles to help with shoulder mobility and straight leg swings to help with hamstring muscles.
Static Stretching
One of the most popular and familiar types of stretching, static stretching involves stretching a muscle as far as it can go without feeling pain and hold it for 20 to 45 seconds. This type of stretching is great for increasing flexibility. As such, static stretches are ideal for cooling down after a training session. An example of static stretching includes reaching to touch your toes from a standing of seated position.
Assisted Stretching
Also called partner stretching, assisted stretching allows your body to move in ways that it is not able to when stretching alone. This type of stretching can help reduce muscle tightness, increase flexibility, and improve our range of motion. While you can achieve some of these benefits with the help of a trusted friend or exercise partner, it is recommended to seek the help of a trained professional for maximum results.
So, how does any of this improve our performance and make us stronger martial artists? For one, as your flexibility improves, you lower your risk of injury. Additionally, the more flexible you become, the better you will move. Your muscles will work together more efficiently and your techniques will become more effective.
Ready to start experiencing the benefits of incorporating more stretching into your martial artists training? At Invictus, we help you do just that! And it’s easy to GET STARTED.
According to the CDC, a staggering 25% of U.S. adults are considered physically inactive. The health repercussions of not getting enough physical activity can be severe: obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer. Of course, the benefits of physical activity are numerous including a decreased risk of chronic disease, improved mental health, and better sleep to name a few. Bottom line, as adults, we need to get moving.
There are several reasons adults don’t exercise. The most cited reason is a lack of time. Also noted are a lack of support or lack of desirable options. Let’s face it, the idea of spending half an hour on a treadmill isn’t exactly inspirational.
So, what can adults do to get moving that’s fast, effective, and includes a positive and supportive community?
Martial arts training is an ideal solution. Surprisingly, only 5% of adults have ever trained in a martial arts discipline. With so many benefits, we want to do our part to share our passion for mixed martial arts training and grow that number.
There are a variety of physical, social, and emotional benefits to training in martial arts. Need to loose weight? Want to feel stronger? Could you use a confidence boost? Is a lack of accountability crippling your progress? Regardless of what your fitness goals are, you can completely transform your life with martial arts training. We’ll show you how!
Ready to become part of the 5% of adults that consider themselves martial artists? It’s time to get moving and start getting the results you deserve. At Invictus, we help you do just that! And it’s easy to GET STARTED.
We’ve all been there. We start out with the best intensions, come up with a goal, and a plan, and commit to getting in better shape. But then something happens. We get injured. We don’t see the results we expected. We get discouraged. Sometimes, we even quit.
So, how do you make sure to stay on track with your fitness goals?
We’ve come up with some simple tips to make your workout more effective, maximize your results, and minimize your chances of injury.
Always make sure you warm up first. According to Mayo Clinic, a warm-up should last around 5 minutes. Warming up helps prepare your body for aerobic activity and lowers your risk of injury.
Fueling your body before a workout is just as important. Protein is one of the most important nutrients. The recommended dietary allowance is 56 grams per day for men and 46 grams per day for women. While this may sound like a lot, and you may not be a fan of protein shakes or bars, there are several foods that are excellent sources of protein.
Some examples include:
1/2 salmon fillet – 30g
half a chicken breast – 26g
3 ounces of lean beef – 25g
7 ounces of greek yogurt – 20g
2 eggs – 12g
2 ounces of almonds – 12g
1/2 cup of lentils – 9g
1 cup quinoa – 8g
Above all, always listen to your body while exercising. Pace yourself and be patient. You will continue to get stronger and more resilient over time. Prioritize cooling down after you workout. A cool down activity can take as little as 5 to 10 minutes. Walking, yoga, or static stretching are great options. This will speed up your muscle recovery and reduce soreness.
Check out the graphic below for more great tips.
Ready to put these tips into practice and start getting the results you deserve? At Invictus, we help you do just that! And it’s easy to GET STARTED.
Parents, we’ve all been there. Despite our best efforts to encourage healthy eating, we still struggle to ensure our kids are getting enough vegetables in their diet. Most parents understand the importance of providing a wide variety of vegetables for their kids to enjoy; however, getting them to actually eat those vegetables is typically easier said than done.
According to the CDC, 90% of children (ages 2-18 years) aren’t eating enough vegetables. In fact, only 2% of teens are getting their recommended servings of daily veggies.
So, what’s a parent to do? When it feels like you’ve tried everything and the temptation to give up is stronger than the desire to stick it out, give these mealtime hacks a try instead:
Lead By Example
That’s right. As parents, we can’t just talk the talk, we have to walk the walk, too. We can offer our kids nutritious meals and encourage them to eat more veggies all we want, but if our behavior doesn’t match what we’re asking of them, they will notice.
In fact, a recent study out of the University of Michigan proved that it’s less about mealtime conversation and verbal encouragement and more about exhibiting the desired mealtime behavior. So, do the work, and lead by example.
Get Them Involved
Involving kids in meal-time decisions can help give them a sense of control. Meal planning and grocery shopping are great activities to invite your kids to participate in. This is also a great way to discover which vegetables they like best and even encourage trying something new. When it comes to meal prep, letting them pick how they want their vegetables prepared (raw or cooked) is also a simple way to get them involved.
Another great idea is planting a small vegetable garden. When kids are involved in where their vegetables come from, they’re more likely to be open to trying them.
Repeated Exposure
A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests the getting kids to eat their veggies mostly comes down to repetition. This means that the more you expose your child to vegetables, the more likely they will eat them.
Be consistent. Offer at least a small serving of veggies at every meal. Even if they only take a few bites, that’s more than they would have eaten otherwise and they’ll be more likely to try again at their next meal.
It’s All About The Pairing
Let’s face it, if kids have the option of eating pizza or broccoli, they’re probably going to eat the pizza first. And once they fill up on their favorite foods, they won’t be hungry enough to eat their veggies.
Consider pairing the veggies with a less desirable main dish that the kids still enjoy but isn’t quite as popular. Get creative! veggies don’t just have to be a side to the main course. If pizza is the go-to dinner of choice, why not add some veggie toppings? Another great strategy is offering veggies before dinner is ready. When kids are hungry, they’ll eat more, even if that means eating foods they normally wouldn’t.
Ready to get your kids active and do something good for their health? Try a martial arts training session at Invictus! Which class below are you most curious about?
November is Good Nutrition Month so we’re taking a look at some simple tips to encourage healthy eating. With the holidays quickly approaching it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to making smart nutrition choices.
Fortunately, establishing and practicing healthy eating habits now can pay off big in the long run and make navigating the food offerings at all those holiday parties less stressful.
There’s really no reason to wait until the new year to resolve to make your nutrition a top priority. As they say, the best time to start may have been yesterday, but the second best time to start is right now.
Here are our five simple tips to help you start eating healthier today:
1. It all starts at home
Create a home environment that makes it easier to make healthy food choices. That’s right, it all starts with cleaning out your pantry. To help you decide which foods can stay and which need to go, read the nutrition labels. Ingredients are listed in order of decreasing volume. So, if you see fat, sugar, or salt listed as one of the first ingredients, that’s not your healthiest option. Don’t get distracted by labels like “low-fat” or “light”. Despite being lower in fat, many times these foods are loaded with excess sugar or sodium. The good news is that anything you decided doesn’t belong in your pantry can easily be donated to a local food bank. Win-win.
Once your pantry (and fridge) are purged of the less than nutritious food choices, make sure you restock with plenty of healthy foods like fruits, nuts, vegetables, and good fats.
2. Meal plan for success
Believe it or not, according to a recent consumer survey, 53% of dinners are planned within an hour of eating them. Without a plan, you’re far more likely to end up in a drive-thru late at night eating foods high in trans fat. Planning ahead makes it easier to be healthy, especially on busy days. Start by planning your shopping list for the week. Pre-considering the health value of each item you add to your list will help you avoid impulse buys when you’re shopping.
In addition to making healthier food choices, you’ll also save a considerable amount of money. On average, it costs five times more to order a common meal from a restaurant than it does to cook the same meal at home.
3. Practice mindful eating
Mindful eating is a practice that encourages people to develop a deeper connection with food and begin to create lifelong, healthy habits. Connecting with the foods we eat can help us more easily recognize feelings of hunger and fullness and even help us experience better digestion.
To help keep the focus on the food, it is recommended to keep screens off during meal time. Whether it’s a snack or a meal, it’s so much easier to unintentionally over-eat if you’re distracted by your device. This is because when we’re distracted it becomes harder to listen to our body’s signals about food and other needs.
4. Know the difference between a snack and a treat
It’s common that people who are making an effort to make healthy eating choices often get the hang of eating healthier meals but struggle when it comes to how to handle the time between meals. Experts agree that aiming to eat every three hours or so can help us stay on track with our nutrition goals. But what we eat during those intervals is crucial to our success.
Remember, a snack is a small portion of food you eat between meals to satisfy your hunger and fuel your body. Some great choices are carrots, apple slices, or a handful of almonds. Alternatively, a treat is a less nutritious option that does not fuel your body and brain. So, that trip to the vending machine for a soda and a candy bar…you guessed it…that’s more of a treat and less of a snack after all.
5. Stay hydrated
It’s fairly common for people to confuse thirst for hunger. This is because the same part of your brain is responsible for interpreting hunger and thirst signals. So, how can you tell the difference? According to expert dietitians, signs of hunger can include feeling weak, irritable, or moody, or feeling your stomach rumble. Alternatively, signs of thirst may include dry-mouth, a mild headache, or feeling sluggish.
So, next time you think you’re hungry, test it out by drinking a glass of water and waiting 15 minutes. If you feel satisfied, you were probably just thirsty. If your stomach is still grumbling, try eating a nutritious snack.
As with most things in life, accountability is key. Get your family involved or recruit a friend to commit to healthier eating with you. Having a trusted ally can make all the difference when it comes to sticking to your healthy food choices. In no time at all, you’ll be eating better and feeling a whole lot better, too!
Ready to get active and do something good for your health? Try a martial arts training session at Invictus! Which class below are you most curious about?
The difference between a good and a bad workout often comes down to how you fuel your body. What you eat and when you eat it determines how hard you can push yourself during a training session. It also impacts how well your muscles recover afterwards.
Many people believe not eating before a workout will help them burn more fat. That’s simply not the case. In fact, not eating before a workout can lead to feeling lethargic or even faint during a workout. The main goal of eating before a workout is to prime our metabolism and replenish the glycogen that supplies our energy needs to our body.
So, how do you fuel your body for a successful workout without limiting your performance? The solution is a simple nutritional recipe for fitness success: drink plenty of water, and eat good carbs and lean protein.
Here are a few tips on how to best fuel your body to maximize your training experience.
Stay Hydrated
We can’t stress this enough: stay hydrated. Drinking water before you begin your workout is crucial. The amount of water your body needs will vary from person to person based on size and muscle mass. Do your own personal research to determine your optimal hydration requirements. The goal is to be fully hydrated within an hour of starting your workout. This is because the act of drinking water only starts the hydration process and our bodies need time to fully benefit. During a high-intensity workout, aim to drink water every 20-30 minutes to stay hydrated as you exercise. Keep in mind, when you drink water during your workout, you’re not just putting liquid back into your body, you’re also replenishing electrolytes, sodium, and glucose. Even better, drinking water can help regulate your body temperature and even prevent muscle cramps.
Eat Regularly Throughout The Day
We get it. Life happens and suddenly we find ourselves skipping meals and making excuses. The benefit of disciplining ourselves to eat at regular intervals throughout the day is that we can better maintain proper blood sugar levels and energy levels as well. Aim to eat about 300 to 500 calories about two hours before your workout. Remember, your body can only use food it’s already digested. Eating easily digestible food a couple of hours before you exercise will provide your body with the time it needs to properly fuel itself without making you feel too full.
Convinced you just can’t make that happen? Even just eating a 50 to 100 calorie snack consisting of fast-digesting carbs right before your workout can provide a quick burst of energy to fuel your fitness. Some great choices to eat on the go are fruits like oranges, bananas, apples, or raisins.
Just Say “No” To Some Foods
When it comes to fueling a great workout, avoid foods high in saturated fats like fried foods or pizza. In general, these kinds of foods take a long time to digest and tend to sit very heavy in your stomach. A small serving of good fats is much more ideal, such as half an avocado or a hand-full of almonds.
Additionally, while foods high in fiber are great for digestive health, consuming large servings of foods high in fiber right before a workout could upset your stomach. Consuming high-fiber foods like broccoli, lentils, or certain cereals before a workout draws blood flow to your digestive system rather than your muscles. This can limit the amount of oxygen, sugar, and amino acids your muscles receive as you exercise.
Lastly, avoid carbonated beverages like soda and seltzer before working out. These drinks can cause gas, bloating, and abdominal pain. They also contain significant amounts of sodium, which can cause dehydration.
Fuel Your Recovery
Jump start your recovery process by consuming good food within 30 to 45 minutes after completing your workout. Look for foods consisting of carbohydrates and a moderate amount of protein. Whole grains and lean meats work best for restoring glycogen stores and stimulating muscle protein synthesis. Fruit smoothies or protein shakes are great options if you’re crunched for time.
In general, macronutrients are key for maximizing your body’s recovery after a great workout. Protein helps repair and build muscles. Carbohydrates replenish your body’s glycogen stores. Good fats like avocado, nuts and seeds, eaten in moderation, have also been shown to aid in muscle growth after a workout.
Finally, don’t skip the water. Replenishing lost water and electrolytes will help you maximize the benefits of your workout.
Now that you’ve got some great tips for fueling your workout, try a FREE training session at Invictus! Which class below are you most curious about?
When most people think of martial arts, they tend to think of the benefits of learning self-defense. But did you know, training in the martial arts doesn’t just teach your body how to protect you from violence? Regular participation in martial arts training also teaches your body to protect you from common medical conditions as well.
Martial arts is medicine, plain and simple.
In fact, the fitness industry as a whole plays an important role in the Healthcare Continuum: preventive healthcare. Experts agree that regular physical activity is vital for the prevention of several chronic diseases. Of course, you should always check with your primary care physician before starting any new exercise program. Here’s a list of some of the most common medical problems and how martial arts can help prevent them:
Allergies
Participating in regular aerobic exercise, like kickboxing, is one of the body’s most efficient ways to control nasal congestion associated with allergies. This is in part due to the dilation of blood vessels which increases blood flow and improves the body’s ability to extract oxygen from the bloodstream. Physical activity results in increased blood flow which allows allergens to be moved quickly through the body and eliminated by the kidneys and skin.
Another benefit of martial arts training is focusing on controlled breathing. Breathing exercises can help build stronger lungs that can help protect against severe allergy symptoms.
Arthritis
Individuals with arthritis are often reluctant to exercise because they fear their symptoms and condition will get worse. Fortunately, new research shows, that being active actually improves joint function.
In general, more activity mean less disability.
When you train in the martial arts, performing various punches and kicks forces the skeletal joints to move which induces the production of synovial fluid and helps to distribute it over the cartilage and circulate throughout the joint space. While these things won’t reverse the damage already done by existing arthritis, it can help prevent things from getting worse.
Diabetes
In general, exercise helps lower blood sugar levels, strengthen the skeletal muscles and heart, improve circulation, and reduce stress. In fact, a recent study shows that type 1 diabetic patients who regularly engage in martial arts training can achieve or maintain satisfactory glycemic control without the increased risk of severe hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
Exercise increases insulin sensitivity which helps your muscles better use available insulin for the uptake of glucose during and after activity.
During exercise, your muscles contract allowing your cells to take up glucose and use it for energy whether there is available insulin or not.
When you make martial arts training, like kickboxing, a regular habit, it can also help lower your A1C levels as well.
Heart Disease
According to the Center for Disease Control, high levels of LDL cholesterol increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Fortunately, training in the martial arts can help raise HDL (the “good” cholesterol) levels in the blood and lower LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) levels.
In fact, an intense martial arts training session can burn up to 500 calories!
Even better, regular participation in martial arts training results in gaining muscle mass. This helps burn even more calories! As your heart rate increases during your martial arts training, your heart learns how to pump blood throughout your body more efficiently. This results in decreased blood pressure, reducing your risk for hypertension.
Osteoporosis
Exercise promotes bone density, thereby lowering an individual’s risk of experiencing bone fracture. In fact, a recent study shows that adolescents engaging in martial arts training presented higher values of bone mineral density when compared to the control group. This means adolescents that train in martial arts will be less prone to developing osteoporosis later in life.
There is also evidence to support learning how to properly fall during martial arts training can be extremely beneficial for individuals suffering with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a well-known risk factor for fall-related hip fractures. Learning and practicing simple fall techniques in a safe and controlled environment can help prevent hip fractures in individuals with osteoporosis.
Ready to experience these health benefits for yourself? Invest in a personalized approach to your wellness with a FREE training session at Invictus. We have new classes starting and invite you to get real results today. Click below for the class that interests you the most and get started for FREE…
