Warming up and Cooling down
Warming up accomplishes two things:
- mobilizes fatty acids stored throughout your body to your blood stream so that you can use your fat instead of your vital blood sugar
- prevents cramping
Flexibility is associated with warming up. The best way to warm up a muscle is to get blood and oxygen to it.
Warm-ups gradually distribute blood to those areas that need it, rather than immediately diverting it to vital organs.
Do a 15 minute warm-up. Start slowly and get your breathing established.
Use a stationary bike, easy jog or a fast walk.
Cooling down...
- it prevents blood from pooling in your working muscles
- do a 12 to 15 minute cool-down by walking or some other form of mild movement. Again, slowly
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