Friday Fitness Fun Fact

STRETCH before (and after) your workout

A cheetah doesn't need much of a warm-up. A leg stretch, a back arch, a yawn. Then it's time to scare up some dinner--not a problem when your top speed is nearly 70 miles an hour. We humans can't get away with that. We need a warm-up before exerting ourselves. 

It's time to evolve. Whether you lift, run, or cycle hard, or simply want to boost your training to a new level, start with your warm-up. The  warm-up will elevate your heart rate and your core temperature--basics that too many men ignore. More important, it will activate the muscle groups and increase bloodflow to them prior to exerting them thus reducing the chance of the dreaded pulled muscle.

The warmup will also make you stronger. That's because you'll be applying stress to your muscles in stretched positions, and you'll be moving in several directions. It will also create great long-term flexibility in just 2 weeks by actively elongating and contracting your muscles through new ranges of motion. 

Stretching after your workout is equally important as it helps to remove lactic acid from the muscle, which in turn reduces muscle soreness. 

What's the investment? About 5 minutes of traditional static stretches (stretch and hold) exercises. The benefit? A stronger, more athletic, more injury-resistant body. 

Here's a link to some basic stretching exercises: 

http://www.muschealth.com/healthyaging/stretch.htm

Mens Health Magaizne

Thanks for the info Boner. Can you find something that will tell me why I am so reluctant to do the stretching?? take care doug

Great question, Doug!  All I know is I first got interested in stretching when I started attending some of the mostly all-female flexibility classes at the local club. So, my suggestion is to attend one and park yourself behind the most attractive female in the class and "enjoy the scenery." That should take care of your reluctance to stretch.  Boner

Know we no where Boner came from. Ken

I've always been "big-boned", Bluedog.

Hey ,ya know I have been telling myself for about a year now I need to do more stretching  !  But like Doug said : Can you find a site that can tell us how to do more of it .  LOL   Im so tight ( I dont mean with money ) Im tighter then a gnat's a$$ streached over a fifty gallon drum . That's how tight I am . We do stretch after my spinning class though   Thanks Boner     Nick

That might work for you young guys but I doubt they would let a grey beard through the door much less on the floor. But I understand and appreciate your motivation. Take a video camera with you next time you go and stretch. That way us old guys won't feel so left out.

Hey Doug, Since I'm over 50 myself, I guess I quality for being an "old pervert." Despite this rather dubios distinction, I've always seemed to be welcome in these classes. I think deep down the women enjoy the ogggling  even if it's coming from an old codger. Give it a go, youngster!! Boner

I've always heard that you are supposed to warm up to a sweat with light exercise, then stretch. Otherwise the risk of injury from stretching itself is pretty high.

One thing you can do to achieve both is the yoga sun circuit:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3824718141957622604 &q=sun+salutation&total=717&start=0&num=100&so=0&type=search &plindex=0

(Hot chick on beach at sunset)

Yeeeesssss!! Once again, Dave has been able to provide a visual presentation of what I've been discussing. HIs video link is precisely the type of "stretching" which I referred to above. The girl in this video is dressed very conservatively compared to my experience in the health club so as you watch her stretch, imagine big honkers and tight shorts.  Thanks, Dave......you have an amazing talent in finding just the right visuals! Boner