subject: Vertical Jump Training Success Secret: Diet And Rest! [print this page] Maybe you rolled your eyes as you read that title, since youve probably heard that from your mother or coach a thousand times. Its true, mom was rightespecially if youre into vertical jump training. Working out too much is detrimental to your success and can even injure you. Overworked, fatigued muscles dont grow. Diet, sleep and rest are non-negotiables.
Gaining in your vertical leap doesnt happen in 24 hours, you need time. Because this is the case, a prolonged session of back-to-back muscle training will simply not produce your desired result. Give your muscles a breakthey need time to recover, which refers to the time your muscles re-build themselves and add lean mass. This happens at rest.
If you want to see actual gains to the height of your vertical leap, then you need to grasp this notion of rest. Your muscles actually require this after workouts in order to grow. During your vertical jump training, you tear down muscle tissue. During recovery, your body is preparing for next time. This is why sleeping right, eating right and resting your muscles is necessary.
Watching your calorie-protein ratio is another key to a successful vertical jump training routine. A proper balance between calories and protein helps ensure you grow lean muscle tissue, adding to your vertical jump. Training yourself to eat right will require changes, but dont change overnight. This is sure-fire way to lose your drive and energy. Take baby steps.
A rather popular debate is whether or not protein is metabolized better as a shake or in a bar. Truthfully, it doesnt matter so much how you get your protein, so long as the ratio is about 40g of protein to about 50-100g of carbohydrates. You also want to take the supplement in whatever form you have it in the 2-3 hour window after youve worked out.
Treating your worn-out, beat up muscles with direct treatment is another key to vertical jump training. Its just like youll see in movies, the athletes spending time in a sauna or steaming showers, or the dreaded ice bath. These will help your muscles get into recovery quickly, preparing for the next exercise session.
Saving the easiest for last, you need to top off your day with a reward of a solid 7-8 hours of sleep. It isnt the easiest discipline to do in todays world of super-busy lives we live, but its a discipline that will pay off in spades. If your vertical jump training is designed to waste time, then dont worry about sleep. If you want to actually gain in your vertical jump, then sleep.
