By TJ Ross
There are many ways to enjoy living an active lifestyle but the key to longevity is remaining healthy to stay in the game! I’m writing this from the perspective of a road cyclist, rock climber, and avid golfer who works 45 hours a week. Finding the balance between work and play is a struggle for most but before you can find that balance, you must achieve a certain level of overall health. This requires quick recovery and an abundance of energy that can be obtained by following my easy Active Lifestyle Health Hacks.
These lifestyle hacks can be broken down into four categories; herbal supplements, proper rest, stretching, and diet. First, I’ll start by discussing a couple of products that support the mind, body, and spirit. Wise Woman Herbals’ Glycyrrhiza Glycerite is a glycerine based tincture that promotes a healthy liver and adrenal gland without the dehydrating properties of alcohol. I enjoy this product before long distances rides in the hot sun and before multi-pitch climbs where I need to be focused for hours on end for the safety of myself and my partner. A similar product that gets me in the zone before hitting the golf course is Wise Woman Herbals’ Adrenal Tonic. (https://wisewomanherbals.com/products/adrenal-tonic) This tincture loosens me up by promoting healthy circulation with a little boost of adrenaline perfect for getting those birdies! I love to re-dose every couple holes to keep a high level of energy throughout all 18.
CBD Infused Joint Support Salve
At the end of the day, my body is often sore and overworked. Recovery is not as simple as falling asleep on the couch in your workout clothes… Although this seems like it’s what your worn out body and mind want, it is very detrimental to your ability to wake up and do it all over again. An active recovery of refueling, stretching and rest open up the ability to keep going day after day like the athletes that inspire you. I recommend the Wise Woman Herbals’ topical CBD infused Joint Support Slave or Arch Oil (https://wisewomanherbals.com/products/cbd-infused-joint-support-salve) for easy application. The CBD properties of the joint support slave are a perfect nightcap for my sore body. I massage it into my neck, shoulders, arms and legs for the best results.
After I apply my CBD cream, I put the phone and computer away at least an hour before bed, as the blue light does not allow my brain to produce the proper amount of melatonin for a full night's rest. I prefer to have undisturbed sleep for 8-9 hours if possible but that’s not always the case so make sure that the time spent your bed is quality. I avoid answering text and calls by leaving my phone out of reach yet still close enough to hear the alarm. This also makes me physically get up to turn it off instead of find the snooze button and falling back to sleep.
It is important to stretch for at least 15 minutes a day but I recommend 15 before and 15 after any activity. It may feel like there is not enough time in the day for this but forgetting to stretch increases the likelihood of injury and is often the reason for unexpected pain in the back or knees. I often find when my knees hurt, its because my quadriceps are tight. Same for my lower back and glutes. It’s important to remember that everything is connected to the core.
My last bit of advice is maintaining a healthy balance while refueling. It’s important to consume a minimum of 80 grams of protein on active days to repair the muscles. I opt to eat plenty of healthy fats before my hobbies because the amount of calories contained per gram is much higher than carbs. This allows me to workout for longer periods without feeling tired and weak. Remember that a healthy diet varies person to person and what works best for some might not work for all, so testing different diets and visiting with a nutritionist is highly recommended.
These Active Lifestyle Hacks work for my fitness and health but are definitely not one-size fits all solution. Discovering what supplements, diet and hobbies that fit your mind, body and spirit is a journey that should be enjoyed. It's an ever changing process and I recommend your own research and experiments, along with consulting a health practitioner and nutritionist. Stay Active and Be Happy!