Sometimes what you need the most to get in shape (excitement, energy, and motivation) can be exactly what ends up sidelining you unexpectedly once you get started. Going after a workout with everything you've got is a good thing, but if you step too far out of your comfort zone all at once you risk ending up too worn out the next day (or days) to keep up the efforts. A skipped workout is a missed opportunity, plus there's always a chance just one missed workout will turn into several missed workouts, or worse yet the end of your plans altogether.

Recovering from a workout as efficiently as possible is obviously a pretty valuable thing to know how to do, and this list of 10 tips includes both common ideas and off-the-wall ones, so you're sure to find something that works for you:

• Have a workout shake immediately after your workout. Something with a 2-to-1 mix of carbs and protein is your best bet.
• Take a contrast bath immediately after your workout. This is one of those "off-the-wall" ideas, and if you try it you'll have to let us know if it works or not. It's from ancient Eastern techniques and means taking a shower or bath of alternating hot and cold water for 1 minute each for up to 10 minutes total. This is supposed to stimulate recovery.

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The carb and protein supplement industry is a big one for fitness buffs and beginners alike, and although recent research confirms that they do benefit athletes it may not be in exactly the ways we all expect. If you drink carb and protein supplements before or during your workout hoping for a boost in athletic performance you're probably not going to get it. Research shows that the supplements seem to have no affect on how well athletes work out, but instead helps how they feel after they're finished working out. In a new study the supplements appeared to reduce muscle damage from intense resistance training sessions, therefore allowing the athletes to feel better and workout intensely again sooner.

Who knows, maybe you already knew this? It makes sense, although I think supplements might help some people with actual performance if they use them for a pre-workout energy and calorie boost.

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Not too long ago we found out that happy couples already exhibit a kind of therapeutic measure on each other when researchers discovered that holding hands can reduce stress. Now it looks like they've discovered new information which reveals how a spouse's personality can affect how their partner recovers from major health challenges.

In the case of their study, researchers watched over a hundred coronary artery bypass patients and their significant others. Once again, it looks like marital satisfaction plays a larger role in the effectiveness of the study. Those who were married to to an anxious or even neurotic spouse reported symptoms of depression 18 months after their surgery.

Those couples in more optimistic circumstances reported fewer symptoms of depression and appeared to have less of a burden in recovery. It all points to a universal truth: even though they may be independent, personalities among couples can manifest themselves in physical and psychological ways.

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The Japanese have discovered some good news for young smokers looking to quit the habit, and for those who already have. Smoking causes heart disease and damages arteries by causing them to harden, but a new study of 20 and 30-something men found that as early as one month after breaking the habit the signs of heart disease disappeared and their arteries had returned to normal. And six months later the results held steady.

Although this study focused mainly on younger smokers, researchers are eager to see if the results hold true with an older population of smokers. Obviously, on top of the many many other health benefits, this is a huge motivation for people to kick the habit.

So if you're interested in quitting, don't let a false sense of "the damage has already been done" change your mind!

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