Rest Day

Thoughts:
Okay, so I have been doing Crossfit for a week now.  My wife and I have noticed some slight (and I do mean slight) definition changes in my shoulders and arms, which is cool.  I still have a long way to go, but it is nice to know that with a lot of hard work you can begin to see some results fairly quickly.

It was about a year ago that I started Crossfit for the first time.  Reminiscing about my first experience, I am amazed at my naivety.  I did not think it would be so hard on the body.  Seems I tend to underestimate a lot of things in life.  My body would get sore and my response was to stop until my muscles felt better. This resulted in my muscles almost completely locking up, barely being able to move, and me working out on average twice a week.

 However, I have learned that, although the body may show some signs of soreness or fatigue shortly after a workout, the real soreness will not set in until about 24 hours after the workout.  If the body does not have a chance to get blood and all other manner of fluids pumping though it, the condition will only worsen for hours 36 - 72.

I can say that my body has been in a constant state of soreness since I have started working out again, even during and after rest days.  However, This time I have worked out more in one week than I did in almost a month last year.  What is the difference, I think I have learned a few things about preventing soreness or muscle lock.
1). As stated above, Try to workout within 24 hours of completing the last workout.
2). One of my friends recommends high protein and glucosamine after a workout. This helps nourish the muscles and help keep the body limber.
3). More on Nutrition: My wife makes some wonderful food and tries to make it as healthy as possible (not all of it is healthy for my sake) http://perkyfood.blogspot.com/. That said I am not the healthiest eater and the body frequently needs additional sources of nutrients to fulfill it's complicated workings.

At it's simplest, the human body is a machine: 1 a archaic : a constructed thing whether material or immaterial  e (1) : an assemblage of parts that transmit forces, motion, and energy one to another in a predetermined manner (2) : an instrument (as a lever) designed to transmit or modify the application of power, force, or motion. 2 a : a living organism or one of its functional system.
Extract from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machine.

Machines take energy and convert it in to work.  If a machine does not take in enough fuel for the amount of work it needs to accomplish, it will wear out faster and fail.  I began to research nutritional supplements about 8 months ago, thinking there must be something or some combination of vitamins, minerals that could help my body recuperate faster.

I stumbled across a couple products designed to aid in muscle recovery.  I was not looking to artificially increase my strength, or endurance like a lot of energy drinks or steroid(ish) substances try to do.  The supplements are certified by the NSF to be clear of any performance enhancing, chemicals or supplement.

Proper and complete nutrition has done so much for my body in completing the work it needs to do. Now The mind / will is a little harder to nourish and discipline.

Lesson:
Make a routine out of the important things.