As an athlete, you probably already know how important it is to warm-up before you exercise your muscles. However, many athletes forget that it’s also just as important to take steps to cool down as well. If you’re looking to get the most out of your next workout and stay safe, make sure you follow these key steps to cool down after you exercise.
- Lower your exercise intensity. The first step of a proper cool-down session is lowering your exercise intensity. If you were doing cardio, this means that you’ll want to slow down your pace to a more manageable level and lowering your incline if you’re on a treadmill. If you’re working on strength training, put down the heavier weights and do a few reps with weights that you can easily manage. Focus on breathing deeply and returning your heart rate to normal during this time. Continue for three to five minutes.
- Stretch. Once your heart rate has returned to normal, it’s time to stretch out your muscles. When you cool down, you want to focus on stretching the muscle groups that you’ve worked out during your exercise. Hold each stretch for 20 to 30 seconds to improve blood flow and lower the risk of an injury next time you work out.
- Enjoy your post-workout recovery supplement. Workout recovery supplements, like those available from Big Daddy’s Nutrition, help you make the most out of your workout, build more muscle, and achieve your fitness goals faster.
No matter if you’re looking to lose weight, gain muscle mass, or simply get your heart into better shape for health reasons, Big Daddy’s Nutrition is here to support your fitness goals with our protein and wellness supplements. To learn more about the wide array of products we currently offer, contact us online or give us a call at 484-552-2762.