(Once a week we will post an article by a guest)
This guest article was contributed by Jennifer Bell from Health Training Guide. Jennifer is a freelance writer and mother of 2 based in Los Angeles, CA. Check out her site to learn more about dentist training and other exciting health careers.
Abruptly Quitting: Big No-no
The cool down is a very important part of one’s workout routine. Some people will hit the gym, pump dozens of reps of heavy weight, then just put it all down, throw on their shirt and leave. This is not only an ineffective way to work out, it’s even a bit dangerous. Here are a few reasons why cool down is so important.
Blood Flow
People who just suddenly stop working out are letting all of their blood pool at the bottom of their legs. This is a sure way to experience faintness and dizziness. People who do this without passing out are lucky. When they get a little older they’ll be sure to have trouble staying conscious when they drop the weights. It’s better for the heart and for circulation to slow down gradually and manually return blood flow to normal.
Muscle Recovery
Without a cool-down, the muscles have a tougher time recovering and rebuilding for the next workout. People who lift and stop and lift and stop might seem more dedicated than the people who take a few minutes to walk or do light exercise after pumping the iron, but the end result is smaller, sorer muscles.
Body Heat
When the body is that hot, it’s still expending energy. Why burn through an energy supply without doing anything with it? By keeping moving after a work out, the body slows down gradually. In the old days, body builders would often take an icy-cold shower immediately after a workout. This method works, but taking some time to cool down with lighter exercise, stretching, and light movement is a more gradual, effective way to get the body temperature down a bit.
Crashing is never a good idea, in any context. Whether that means drinking coffee and crashing when the body runs out of caffeine, a sudden stop to nutrition with a crash diet or in this case, ceasing all physical movement and activity the minute one is finished exercising.
The body responds well to gradual change. Nobody begins a workout by running to the weight bench, setting it to the biggest number they can lift and then pumping away. No, they start with some stretching, jogging, calisthenics, and then, once they are sufficiently warmed up, they start hitting the weight benches or exercise bikes. The same goes for after the workout, too. Warm up slowly and cool down slowly for best results.
This guest article was contributed by Jennifer Bell from Health Training Guide. Jennifer is a freelance writer and mother of 2 based in Los Angeles, CA. Check out her site to learn more about dentist training and other exciting health careers.
