Healing Aids... - Exercise - Warm-Up, Cool-Down, Waiting Period

Warm-Up & Cool-Down

Always properly warm-up before you do any exercise. This will improve performance while preventing injury. Cool-down is equally important so that lactic acid is cleared from your muscles and your body is slowed down after the workout.

The "Waiting Period"

Another cause of concern is the "waiting period" before exercise. This varies not only on the type of exercise but also on the individual. For endurance efforts at maximum capacity, the waiting period after eating is longest. Many endurance athletes begin "loading" food even days before, while refraining from eating for many hours leading up to an effort. For a casual bike ride or a relaxing, slow-paced walk, the waiting period is usually not a concern at all.

Waiting periods also depend on the individual. You may feel comfortable (and best) eating two almond butter sandwiches exactly one half-hour before your soccer game, while some of your teammates cannot eat any food for four hours leading up to game time without feeling uncomfortably nauseous while playing. Above all, this is a matter of understanding your body -- what it needs and when it needs it.

Although this may sound all too vague, you will begin to better understand your body's needs when you start a regular exercise program. As we do not subject our bodies to appropriate physical challenges, we do not obtain enough knowledge about our physical strengths, weakness, and our dietary needs. This knowledge is readily learned through our senses, if we give them the opportunity to learn.