Warming up is a crucial aspect of your workout and should never be overlooked. There are several key actions to remember:
First, walk at a brisk pace, or jog, for at least five minutes prior to working out. This will help ramp up your heart rate so that your cardio vascular system is prepared for the higher activity to come.
Second, remember to stretch the muscles that you are targeting for that workout.
Lastly, do not jump straight into high levels of muscular strain. First, perform a set of lighter reps that target the muscles you will be working out. This will help mobilize the joints for the harder reps to follow.
A warm-up gradually revs up your cardiovascular system by raising your body temperature and increasing blood flow to your muscles. Warming up may also help reduce muscle soreness and lessen your risk of injury. Building muscle and losing fat both require a higher heart rate during activity, as well as inducing enough blood flow to your muscles to incur growth. But you can severely injure yourself if you do not warm up both of those things appropriately— and in fact you will have a less efficient impact on your body if you do not warm up.
If you ever have doubts about how you are handling your personal fitness, contact us for a free consultation.