You have heard us many times encouraging you to approach us with any questions you may have regarding metabolic training, your other fitness endeavors, nutrition, etc. We have received some really good questions and decided that if one person was asking the question, others have probably wondered about that topic also. So this week's posting will address some of the questions we have received.
When is the best time to stretch?
The warm up that we do prior to metabolic training may be somewhat different from the type of warm up you have done in other trainings or classes. That is because warming up and stretching are not synonymous. A proper warm up prepares your muscles and body for the activity you are about to perform. The purpose of the dynamic warm up that we perform is to increase blood flow to your working muscles and to increase nervous system awareness. This will decrease your risk of injury and improve your performance. So... the best time to stretch is actually after your workout. Stretching elongates the muscles and can aid in relaxation and in some studies has been shown to reduce muscle soreness.
What can I do to prevent leg cramps?
The cause of leg cramps is not always known, but some possible causes or contributing factors are dehydration and loss of sodium, magnesium, and potassium. One precaution you can take to help reduce the likelihood of getting leg cramps is to stay well hydrated. We recommend bringing a bottle of water or sports drink to the training. Even if you do not feel the need to hydrate during the session, if you bring something to drink and make it a point to finish it by the time you get home, you will be one step ahead in remaining hydrated. You can also help maintain proper potassium and magnesium levels by eating foods rich in these minerals. Some potassium rich foods are bananas, brussel sprouts, cantaloupe, lima beans, skim milk, baked potatoes, spinach, and low-fat yogurt. Foods rich in magnesium include black or white beans, halibut, okra, spinach, almonds and wheat bran.
What can I do to lose abdominal fat?
We have said it before and we'll say it again... you cannot spot reduce. Having a toned midsection is a combination of reducing your overall body fat percentage and toning the abdominal and core muscles. You have taken one big step toward reducing body fat by beginning metabolic training which will increase your metabolism and your lean muscle mass. Other factors that influence the amount of abdominal fat are diet, sleep, and stress. These three things have a direct impact on the "good and bad" hormones in your body. We will continue to post topics and recipes that focus on lean proteins and complex carbs. Focusing more on good, quality food choices rather than counting calories will help balance out the hormones that impact how much you eat and how much abdominal fat you have.
If you've got a question, post a comment, send us an email, or just ask us in person!
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