The Importance of a Good Pair of Shoes

Nike Shoe (IT Project) by Annette Huynh is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Before you begin your work out, it is essential that you complete one important step (Well, one of many steps): Get yourself some good shoes.  Owning the right footwear is crucial, because shoes that are too small or don’t have enough support and cushion could lead to disastrous injuries.

When looking for a good pair of shoes to work out in, it is important to seek out shoes with a thick sole. These shoes tend to have more support for your feet and will be the most shock-absorbent. When exercising, the weight of your whole body is on your feet, especially if you’re lifting weights or doing any jumping. Not having enough cushion in your shoes could result in injuries in your feet that could take you out of the gym for weeks.

You also want to make sure that your shoes are the correct size.  Your shoes are meant to protect your feet, not to hurt them. When trying on shoes, there should be half an inch between the tips of your toes and the very end of your shoe. If that half an inch isn’t there, your shoes are most likely too small. While it may feel okay for a little while, shoes that are even half a size too small will begin to hurt your feet after you work out in them for a while. It’s also important to make sure that your shoes aren’t too big. If your feet slide around in your shoes, this could not only hurt your feet in the long run, but it could also lead to more dangerous injuries. 

Happy Eating!

Fresh Fruit for Deb by Christine is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

I know that sometimes, after a workout, you just want to reward yourself for all the blood, sweat, and tears that you had just shed. But think before you reach for that cookie! Here are a few suggestions of things to eat before and after your workout to gain optimal results.

Contrary to what some of us may think, not eating before a workout is not good for you. Yes, it may help you lose weight, but it’s extremely unhealthy. If you are eating an hour or thirty minutes before your workout, it’s a good idea to reach for some fresh fruit, such as apples or watermelon. Eating a few hours before you hit the gym? Go for some bread and peanut butter, yogurt, potatoes, pasta, or cereal. The main thing is to eat something that is easy to digest. You wouldn’t want to consume an entire feast and go to your workout feeling heavy and sluggish, would you?

Just as it’s important to eat well before your workout, it’s equally imperative to eat a healthy meal afterwards. In most cases, it would be best to eat within the hour after completing your exercises. And when you do eat, I would suggest gravitating towards protein or carbohydrates (whole wheat grains). During your workout, your muscles are worn down and ripped up. With this in mind, its important to consume some sort of protein, whether it’s in a protein shake or a protein bar. Protein helps to rebuild your muscles. It’s also a good idea to eat turkey, grilled fish, or grilled chicken. And if you’re in the mood for dessert, try some fresh fruit!

Happy eating!