Fitness, Health and Wellness

  Exercise is a great way to maintain a healthy weight, improve your cardiovascular health and even ward off depression. But, like most things, it IS possible to overdo it. Getting too much exercise can have serious consequences on your body and your brain. If you have ever wondered, can you exercise too much? The answer is yes. Overexercising can get in the way of your fitness goals, doing more harm than good to your body.     So, how much exercise is too much? Well, it depends on factors like your age, health and choice of workouts. Saying that, in general, adults should get about 5 hours a week of moderate exercise or 2 and a half hours or more of intense activity. Research shows that going above and beyond doesn’t necessarily increase your health benefits. Overtraining is different to overreaching and it important to be aware of the difference. For instance, if you take a week off because of excessive soreness, that is not overtraining. Overtraining is not something that happens overnight. It happens by training excessively over a sustained period, leading to weeks and sometimes months of recover which may be detrimental, if you are a professional athlete.   Common signs of over-exercising You've hit a plateau This is commonly seen in those who experience overtraining. Plateaus are commonly seen, because your body isn't adequately recovering between sessions. if your muscles are constantly breaking down and never getting the opportunity to repair, you're going to hit a plateau and, in some cases, you may lose some of your hard-earned strength. Weight Gain Exercising too much without resting enough in between can lead to high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. This is often associated with loss of muscle tissue, weight gain, and excess belly fat. Prolonged Muscle Soreness No doubt, muscle soreness that lasts a day or two after a hard workout is normal. However, prolonged muscle soreness that doesn’t go away after a few days is a sign your body isn't properly recovering or repairing the damage. Lack of sleep Overtraining can lead to insomnia, disrupted sleep, or just less restful sleep. Sleep is when you produce the hormones that facilitate muscle building and recovery so this can be debilitating especially if you are an athlete.   Dangers of Overexercising Overtraining can be dangerous when it results in Rhabdomyolysis. Though uncommon, it is now becoming more prevalent due to the growing popularity of extreme forms of exercise without proper recovery measures. The symptoms of rhabdo include extreme soreness that will not go away, unexplained bruising, extreme fatigue, nausea, and fever. If you have rhabdo, you must seek immediate medical attention as the breakdown of the muscle tissue could lead to kidney damage. Importance of Muscle Recovery So why is muscle recovery important? When you work out, you're breaking down your muscle fibers. Usually, this is a good thing because when the body repairs and rebuilds them, you're stronger than you were before. But for the repair process to happen you need adequate sleep, nutrition, rest, and recovery! Failure to provide your body with those essentials, and your body will not get stronger. If you continuously get in the way of your body rebuilding itself from the damage of the previous workouts, you take your body to a place of chronic stress. Thereby undoing all the hard work you put into your workouts in the first place. How to Recover After Exercising Without proper muscle recovery after workouts, you’ll find yourself heading down the path to overtraining and possibly rhabdomyolysis. Here, we will discuss a few ways on how to recover from over exercising. Rest The damage you do inside the gym is repaired during healthy sleep. So, how long should you rest after a workout? Experts agree that you should aim to get between seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Some serious athletes such as bodybuilders or powerlifters get ten hours of sleep every night. Nutrition The results you see in the mirror are made in the kitchen. Nutrition makes up 70% of your results. If you’re currently eating a poor diet, it’ll be time to start making small changes to healthier options. Remember, you can’t out-train a bad diet. SPRYNG’s Active Compression SPRYNG’s active compression device helps to combat discomfort by aiding in blood circulation. This not only feels great but speeds up recovery. Clinical studies conducted to evaluate the performance of the product within athletes has shown that athletes this device were able to maintain consistent performance throughout workouts compared to athletes using static socks as a recovery method. Read more about our science behind SPRYNG here 

For many, the holiday season is viewed as the best time of the year. It’s a time to spend time with friends and family, go on festive outings, shop, and eat. It’s a time to unwind. But for some, the holiday season can be a very stressful time of the year. The treats that come with the holiday season are tough for them, as to resist. Plus, the dramatic shift in their schedules during this time of the year make it difficult for them to stick to their workout routines. Not to mention, the subsequent slip in their workout routines may take toll on their motivation levels, making it even harder to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. If you found yourself identifying as ‘them’ above, don’t fret!  It is still possible stay fit during the holidays while still enjoying the holiday festivities to the fullest, regardless of how unlikely you think that might be. To help you maintain a healthy routine as well as a high motivation level, we have compiled a list of tips on how to stay fit during the holidays.  Eating Healthy During the Holiday Don’t exclude healthy alternatives completely This first tip may seem obvious, but, surprisingly, many of us forget to choose healthy foods when preparing and/ or eating a holiday feast. If you are hosting a party (COVID-19-permitted, of course), try replacing some ingredients with healthier alternatives. For example, instead of using refined sugar, try using honey or maple syrup; instead of using vegetable oil, try using coconut oil; and instead of using milk, try using a low fat option such as almond milk. If you are invited to a party, you may choose to bring a healthy dish. For example, instead of cake, you can bring banana bread. At the party, start with healthy foods- lean meats, vegetables, and fruits- and then go for the less-healthy foods. Who knows, you may even be too full by then to over indulge in the holiday treats!  Take a short break in between servings By waiting just 10 to 20 minutes before going for another serving, you allow your brain the time to receive signals from your stomach and register that you are full, if you are full. This short break may help you to reduce your calorie intake and avoid overeating during the holidays.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! As a natural appetite suppressant, water can prevent overeating by taking up the remaining space in your stomach, helping you feel fuller sooner. By drinking water, you can avoid unnecessary snacking when you are not hungry, but thirsty. Moreover, drinking water helps to burn calories faster. For people who are looking to avoid weight gain and/or eat healthily during the holiday season, water is your best friend.  Most importantly: enjoy the holiday feasts In maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout the year, it’s important to do things in moderation. That means you should try to eat healthy most of the time, not all of the time. It means that you should not cut off holiday treats from your holiday, but just avoid overconsumption of these foods where possible. Do not deprive yourself of the food you love and cannot eat at other times of the year. Preventing yourself from eating the food you enjoy can be counter-productive. This is because it may cause your motivation to crash, because you did not allow yourself to take a break.  Exercise During the Holidays Quick holiday workouts Because the holiday season is a very busy time of the year, it very likely that you might miss a few workouts. Instead of beating yourself up when this happens, try squeezing in a quick 30 to 20 minute workout when you can.  Holiday Home Workouts Due to the busy nature of this time of the year, as well as the COVID-19-related restrictions, you may not be able to go to the gym as much as you used to. However, you can workout at home instead. Squats, mountain climbers, and/or push-ups can be a great home holiday bodyweight workout. These exercises don’t require any equipment and will help you stay fit during the holidays.  Christmas workouts If it is a feasible option for you, why not try seasonal sports like skiing and/or snowboarding? Not only are these activities fun, but they are great ways to stay fit during the holidays. Plus, you can enjoy these sports with friends and/or family, meaning that you can engage in holiday festivities and stay fit simultaneously.  Post workout recovery Though sometimes overlooked, post workout recovery is an important part of staying fit. With sore muscles after one workout, one may find it hard to exercise the next day and may end up having to skip subsequent days in order to recover. Moreover, the pain after one workout may lead to demotivation, causing you to avoid exercising even after recovering. However, with muscle recovery products, like foam rollers and active compression wraps (such as SPRYNG), faster recovery after workouts is possible. These devices can speed up muscle recovery by increasing blood circulation in the area where these devices are used. You can read more about how to recover quickly after a workout and which devices may speed up muscle recovery here: Easy and Effective Ways to Reduce Muscle Soreness After A Workout – SPRYNG (spryngme.com)   

Snowboarding is one of the most thrilling winter sports to engage in. The adrenaline rush from the risky turns and the free and uncontrolled slopes adds to the thrill and adventure of this sport. Snowboarding is also a great way to build your lower body muscles. This is because the primary muscles you engage with while snowboarding are your glutes, quadriceps (thigh muscles), and gastrocnemii (calf muscles). Considering the beating your lower body takes during a snowboarding session, it is no wonder why you may experience leg pain after snowboarding, especially if you are a beginner to this sport or if you do not regularly work out your lower body. This lower leg pain while snowboarding can ruin the thrill of snowboarding. But before you chuck your bindings and boots out, try these simple home remedies for lower leg pain, R. I. C. E., to quickly recover after snowboarding.  Home Remedies for Lower Leg Pain: R. I. C. E. R: Rest The first way to deal with calf cramps after snowboarding is to rest for a day or two and protect the sore or injured area. Resting will allow your lower body muscles to recover as quickly as possible and allow you to hit the slopes again as soon as possible. It is important to note, however, that resting for too long can be counter productive. Not only will resting for too long prevent you from re-living the thrill of snowboarding, but it would also weaken your muscles which are no longer being used as much.  I: Ice Another great lower leg pain treatment at home is to use cold therapy; for example applying an ice pack to the sore or injured area. Cold therapy will cause the blood vessels around the sore or injured area to constrict, reducing the pain from inflammation. However, applying ice packs directly onto the skin for a long period of time may damage the delicate skin tissues. To avoid this, it is best to cover the ice pack with a light, absorbent towel and limit cold compresses to 10 to 20 minutes at a time.   C: Compression Applying pressure to the affected area can also heal snowboarding leg pain. Wrapping the sore or injured area with an elastic medical bandage can prevent or limit swelling. (Be careful not to wrap these bandages too tightly, though, as this may cut off blood flow which may actually worsen the pain and delay recovery.) Similarly, using recovery tools, such as SPRYNG can heal snowboarding leg cramps. With its active compression technology, SPRYNG helps reduce the pooling of blood in the legs, therefore improving blood circulation to the entire lower body and greatly reducing leg pain after snowboarding. An added benefit of using SPRYNG is that you do not have to stay in one position for a long period of time. This means that you can use SPRYNG laying down, sitting down, standing up, or even walking around. The tighter you wrap SPRYNG, the better the pre-tensioning. Check it out for yourself here.  E: Elevate If you experience lower leg pain after a long day out on the slopes, try elevating your calves on pillows. This is a great home remedy for leg pain below the knee as, much like compression wraps, it reduces swelling around the sore or injured area by making it harder for the blood to reach this area. To minimize swelling as much as possible, try keeping your calves at or above the level of your heart.    Additional Ways to Deal with Snowboarding Leg Pain By practicing the home remedies above when you experience leg pain after snowboarding, you will be able to recover as soon as possible and not have to give up snowboarding. Of course, you can couple R. I. C. E. with other home remedies for lower leg pain, such as stretching before and after snowboarding or using over-the-counter painkillers. Long term factors may also reduce or prevent soreness after snowboarding, such as maintaining a healthy diet or consistently working out your lower body muscles.  

Winter is here! It’s time to dust those skis and ride those mountain slopes. But... what’s that? Your calves hurt after skiing? Don’t let that stop you from enjoying your time on the slopes. You can easily solve your aching calves in many ways. Much like cycling and running, an avid skier is easily susceptible to similar injuries like sore calves, DOMS, and sore feet. However, it can be avoided if proper steps are taken before and after the activity. But, before all that, why do the calf muscles hurt in the first place? Why Do Your Calves Hurt After Skiing? Skiing demands quite a bit of leg work, especially the calves. The simple explanation for the whole sore calves after skiing is because it overworks itself to maintain stability. Studies have shown that skiing requires forefoot control.  This naturally stretches and contracts the calves to its optimum levels.  When it is done for prolonged periods, it can lead to severe stress in the calf area. If the activity is done without stretching, there is a good chance you will experience cramps as well. Soreness after skiing, especially in the calf area, indicates Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) setting in. There are several reasons for leg pain after skiing. Some of the common ones are poor flexibility in the calf area, ankle stiffness, weak muscles, and even poor boot set up. Here’s a few solutions that could help ; Immediately After Skiing Firstly, never pack up as soon as you finish skiing. Always make sure you do a good stretch before packing up. Additionally, hydrating and taking in protein within 30 minutes after the activity is important. Although you don’t feel the effects immediately,  this routine helps in the long run. A good cool down, as mentioned above, helps the body to flush out the lactic acid and stretch out the muscles. The hydration and protein intake helps in muscle repair, which reduces soreness. A Few Days After Skiing Recovery after skiing does not stop there. You must follow up with massages, ice application, a good diet, and light active recovery sessions. One of the best things you could do is try and increase flexibility and do light strengthening exercises after you have recovered. This is where the SPRYNG muscle recovery tool  comes in handy . It is a quick and easy compression wrap that uses  pneumatic pressure pads. All you have to do is set it to your liking and the patent-pending wavetec graduated pressure pattern will do the rest. The revolutionary pattern mimics the skeletal pump of the calf muscle, removing pooled blood, lactic acid, and allowing the flow of oxygenated blood.  This reduces the time taken to recover. Technical Adjustments and Workouts If you are looking for a definitive way on how to stop calves hurting after skiing, then it is best to start with the equipment, and the workouts you do. Firstly, the equipment. Most ski equipment comes with adjustable boots. Remember that your body anatomy is unique, which may require you to adjust the DIN settings of the ski boot. Keep in mind that this is a process of trial and error, since it depends on how flexible and strong you are. Over time these settings may change. Secondly, the workouts. If you are planning on skiing in a competitive space, or even if you are just starting up, make sure you prepare for it. This entails you to plan your workouts accordingly. Consult a certified ski coach for this purpose.   They would look into your current skill and fitness levels and design  the optimum schedule. A good workout plan will not only reduce calf soreness after skiing but stop it altogether! There you have it. Some simple tips to reduce sore calves after a skiing session, and how you can avoid the pain completely.

A walk is something that is healthy for all individuals, regardless of age. It is a healthy routine  that has been recommended by both medical professionals and professional athletes. Studies have also found that a simple walk benefits both your physical well-being as well as your mental well-being. However, experiencing leg pain after walking and several other niggles are unavoidable. The causes of the pain can easily be identified. Moreover, they can be rectified using simple home remedies. Why do your Legs Hurt After a Long Walk? Let us first answer why leg pains happen in the first place after a long walk. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) If you have ever experienced sore legs after a long walk, chances are you are suffering from Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. What is DOMS? It is the muscle soreness you experience after a workout. This normally happens 24 to 48 hours after the workout. DOMS, concerning walking, would normally occur when you have not engaged in any  physical activity in a while.  This also could depend on your age. The older you get, the longer the recovery period is from DOMS. Fret not though, there is no reason for any concern. It is natural and can be resolved right in  your own home. Poor Blood Circulatory System and Anatomical Reasons There are also cardiovascular, and anatomical reasons for leg pain after walking. Peripheral Artery Disease Peripheral artery disease occurs when the blood flow to the muscle groups is restricted by fat and cholesterol build-up. This is common in people who do not follow a healthy diet, and have habits such as smoking. Since blood flow is restricted to the legs during a walk, your legs will start hurting and sometimes cramp up. This  occurs because the legs are starved of oxygenated blood. Chronic Venous Insufficiency Similarly, chronic venous insufficiency results from restricted blood flow. However, it is not a result of plaque build-up in the arteries. This occurs when the valves and arteries are damaged. Subsequently, allowing the pooling of blood in the legs. So, if you ever did a long walk and experienced immediate swelling, inflammation, or sharp pain in the thighs, it is likely that you might have developed a poor circulatory system. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Although the symptoms are similar to peripheral artery disease, the cause is very different. It has been found that when the spinal disks, vertebrae, or the surrounding structure impinge on the spinal cord, it can result in pain in the lower back. It is most commonly associated with sharp pains in the leg area. Diabetic Neuropathy Did you know that having high blood sugar levels can result in the deteriorating of nerves? Studies show that when an individual suffers from high sugar levels, the tiny blood vessels supplying to the nerves get damaged. This allows for nerve strokes to occur and is often experienced in the legs. The main symptom for this is not leg pain, it is numbness and losing the feeling of the leg at certain periods[i]. Want to know more? Learn more about how Spryng can help you! Subscribe for the latest updates and deals. How to Soothe the Pain at Home Now on to the home remedies and tips on how to reduce leg pain after walking. Simple Home Remedies Like mentioned before, you don’t need to worry about your legs hurting after a walk. If you ever do experience calf pain or swelling in the legs, home remedies are easily available. Massage One of the most common solutions is to massage. This can help flush out the excess lactic acid from the legs. This also aids the legs to pump out pooled blood and receive oxygenated blood. Of course, getting a massage from a specialist can be a bit of a hassle. Which is why SPRYNG is the perfect alternative. This muscle recovery tool uses active compression pads to mimic the skeletal pump of the calf muscles. Therefore, enabling the legs to flush out the lactic acid and get rid of the pooled blood. You can now recover from leg pain in no time! Anti-inflammatory Ointments and Gels Applying some of these ointments and gels can also do the trick. It is one of the easiest home remedies for leg pain. If it is something like DOMS, it should help ease the soreness. However, if the pain or swelling persists, it is best to consult a sports physician. Ice Another simple home remedy is to apply ice. Such an application to the legs will help the body reduce blood flow to the stressed area. This not only reduces inflammation, but also reduces pain from DOMS. Even if you do suffer from the other diseases mentioned, ice acts as a temporary solution for managing the pain, until you consult a specialist. However, if your pain persists or if you believe that your pain could be related to a condition in your blood circulatory system or if the pain could be related to a medical condition you should immediately consult with your physician. [i] https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/when-walking-makes-your-legs-hurt   FAQs Why do I feel leg pain after a long walk? If you have ever experienced sore legs after a long walk, chances are you are suffering from Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. DOMS, concerning walking, would normally occur when you have not engaged in any physical activity in a while. This also could depend on your age. Why do my legs feel numb? Studies show that when an individual suffers from high sugar levels, the tiny blood vessels supplying to the nerves get damaged. This allows for nerve strokes to occur and is often experienced in the legs. The main symptom for this is not leg pain, it is numbness and losing the feeling of the leg at certain periods.  How to soothe leg pain at home after a long walk? One of the most common solutions is to massage as this can help flush out the excess lactic acid from the legs. Additionally, applying some ointments and gels can also do the trick. It is also good to apply Ice to the legs since it will help the body reduce blood flow to the stressed area.

If you are a first timer, ski season prep is essential; from having the correct gear at hand, to getting in proper shape is important so that your ski trip is fun, safe and injury-free. While skiing is an incredibly fun activity, most of us can only ski for a few months out of the year. This means that the first time you hit the slopes, your body is unaccustomed to this new activity.  This can be quite challenging on the body. With ski season being just around the corner, you should start your training now. Skiing can be very physically demanding. It involves the work of so many muscle groups. It also requires you to focus on endurance, balance and core strength. Your workout exercises to prepare for ski season should emphasize largely on these three aspects as well as strengthening the muscles that are used the most. If you are thinking about what exercises to do before skiing, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a general overview of how to get your body ready for skiing. 1. Strengthening Exercises The best exercises before skiing, involve exercises that target your quads, glutes, hamstrings and hips as these are the areas that get worked on the most. 2. Focus on Balance Exercises to prepare for skiing should also emphasize making your core stronger as this will help you improve your balance and provide enough stability for skiing. 3. Building Endurance Most of us plan on skiing all day, even if it's been months or years since we last skied. This requires a good deal of endurance. Cardio should be an essential part of your training plan in order to ensure that you don’t get exhausted earlier on.   Early exhaustion can put your body at  risk of heavy injury. Compliment your training with running and cycling to build endurance.  Importance of Muscle Recovery Skiing works parts of your body that you don’t use in everyday life. As a result, it’s likely that you will experience muscle soreness and fatigue. A proper recovery plan is essential before you go on your ski holiday.  This will ensure that you don’t call it quits on the first day itself and  that you are ready for continuous  days on the slopes. With skiing, quick recovery after workout should be the game plan. How to Recover After Exercising There are a few methods in which you can obtain muscle recovery after workout.  We will discuss recovery specific to skiing. What are the things you can do in the evenings after a day of skiing, in order to make you feel ready for the next day on the slopes? Stretching One of the most effective leg workout recovery methods is stretching.   It will help you avoid having sore muscles the next day. The key target areas for stretching are your leg muscles, glutes and lower back. Stay Hydrated At higher altitudes, you  tend to lose water from your body much faster than if you  were at sea level. It’s important to ensure that you are well hydrated as this will help with repairing your muscles faster. SPRYNG Active Compression Recovery Solution This compact and portable recovery device can easily be packed in your bag and be taken with you on your skiing trip. SPRYNG utilizes patent-pending compression profiles to improve performance and accelerate recovery.  SPRYNG is ideal for your leg workout recovery after a day of skiing. The device is clinically proven to improve blood circulation, promote lactic acid flush-out, and increase oxygen supply to muscle tissue.  To find out more about the science behind SPRYNG click here.