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At a basic level, you are supposed to feel energised after a session in the gym. What, then, when you get home depleted of energy and feeling worn out?

Odds are you are pushing yourself too hard. What any person who toils in the gym is aiming for is the endorphin, and related hormones, rush which follows. This is natures way of enhancing your mood and alleviating pain associated with the workout, and will set you up with improved energy levels for the rest of the day.

Or at least, that’s what is supposed to happen.

What is the problem? Most likely your intensity. When you push yourself to the point of failure (which is one of the most often suggested methods of working out), it creates a strain on your central nervous system and leads to a deficit in oxygen as your muscles work to repair themselves.

How should this impact your workout?

It is a good idea to limit your high intensity training to two sessions per week only, and have at least one or two days of rest in between. When you do decide to have a high intensity session, make sure that you refuel your body with the type of foods which are known to be helpful (you can find more details about that on these pages).

Carbs will be important as replacing muscle glycogen will help you to get back on an even keel when it comes to the ideal balance between working out, fueling your body and getting the adequate amount of rest.