You Probably Don't Need a £500 Recovery Routine

Recovery has got very complicated.

Apparently, finishing a workout and having a rest isn't enough anymore.

Now we need massage guns.

Compression boots.

Foam rollers.

Ice baths.

Saunas.

Special drinks.

Sleep trackers.

Recovery supplements.

And ideally some sort of machine that makes you look like you're receiving medical treatment while watching Netflix.

Don't get me wrong.

Some of this stuff is great.

I've used recovery equipment myself, and if you've trained hard, a massage or a bit of time spent looking after your body can feel fantastic.

But I think we've reached the point where some people are putting more effort into recovering from training than they are into the actual training.

You've done 45 minutes in the gym.

You probably don't need to spend the next six hours being rebuilt like a Formula 1 car.

For most people, the boring stuff still does most of the work.

Get enough sleep.

Eat properly.

Get your protein in.

Drink enough water.

Have rest days.

Keep moving.

And don't train every session as though somebody's going to hand you a medal afterwards.

That's a pretty decent recovery plan.

The gadgets can be useful.

A massage gun can feel great on tired muscles.

Foam rolling can be useful.

And if you've got compression boots at home and enjoy sitting there looking like you're preparing for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, crack on.

But they're extras.

They're not a replacement for the basics.

The same goes for soreness.

Being unable to walk properly for three days isn't proof that you had a brilliant workout.

I can make somebody sore.

That's easy.

Good training is about giving your body enough of a challenge to make progress, then allowing it to recover so we can do it again.

You don't get bonus points for needing assistance getting on and off the toilet.

So by all means, enjoy your recovery routine.

Get the massage gun out.

Put your feet up.

Have a bath.

Watch something terrible on television.

If you've somehow acquired a pair of enormous compression boots, this is your moment.

Just remember the most effective recovery equipment you've got is considerably less exciting.

Your bed.

And unfortunately, nobody has worked out how to sell that in a tiny tub with ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE written on the side yet.

Robb Sheridan
Personal Trainer — Lightwater, Surrey

Related reading:
How Many Sessions a Week Do You Really Need to See Results?

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