HOW TO GET WARMED UP

There is a misconception when it comes to "getting loose" before starting a workout. For years we've been under the impression that Stretching was the most efficient way to Warm Up & Prevent Injury before exercising. WRONG. Recently I spoke to a female gymnast who told me she does extensive
stretching before every workout. I asked her if she trains in the weight room at all and she said "Yes." She told me she does the same stretching routine even before lifting weights. INCORRECT

I myself used to do the same stretching regimen I learned back when I played high school baseball before working out. WRONG!!! STRETCHING BEFORE WEIGHT TRAINING IS ACTUALLY MORE LIKELY TO CAUSE INJURY TO YOUR JOINTS, TENDONS AND MUSCLES. Even in the Gymnast's case, when she stretches before doing Gymnastic Routines, she believes she is preparing her muscles, joints and tendons to be extended and stretched even further and more violently. STILL INCORRECT

STRETCHING CREATES MICROSCOPIC TEARS IN YOUR MUSCLES, THEREBY PREVENTING MAXIMUM OUTPUT AND WEAKENING YOUR MUSCLES, MAKING YOU MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INJURY.

The Best Method for Warming Up is simple. Get on the tread mill for 2 minutes. Start off slow for the first minute, then begin to jog and run for the second minute. THIS WILL GET YOUR BLOOD CIRCULATING, WHICH IS THE EXACT REASON FOR WARMING UP. Warming Up is nothing more than getting your blood flowing quicker throughout your body. The Blood in your Body acts the way Oil does for a Car Engine, keeping everything lubricated and moving smoothly.

So the next time you see a football or baseball player stretching before a game, SHOUT AT THEM! Tell them to stop stretching and to just run across the field to get Warmed Up. There is 1 exception to this Rule. MILD STRETCHING. If you experience "TIGHTNESS" in your joints and muscles, mild stretching can improve blood circulation to that specific area. It's when people stretch their muscles as far as they can injuries occur. STRETCHING SHOULD BE DONE AFTER OR POST WORKOUT. If you want to WARM UP, do something that will make you break a sweat like an abdominal exercise or running in place or jumping jacks or shadow boxing or jumping rope. Something rigorous but not too straining. THINK ABOUT IT. IF YOU'RE TEARING YOUR MUSCLES PRIOR TO THE GAME OR BEFORE WORKING OUT, HOW CAN YOU EXPECT TO PERFORM AT YOUR BEST & GET OPTIMAL RESULTS?