This is the last installment for our brief series on the workout routine. Just to recap, we talked about the warm up and the cardio. At the end of each session, the best practice would be to cool down. In between the warm up and cool down, there may be other exercises aside from cardio but we can look at them later on.

So why do we need to cool down at the end of each workout session? First, a cool down helps our heart beat slow down and reach its normal pace gradually. The same thing goes with our breathing. More so, if we stop vigorous exercise abruptly, dizziness and fainting may occur due to the blood pooling at the legs. With a cool down, this is avoided. The cool down also gives time for our muscles to relax and for the tissues to repair themselves for the next workout. Another important thing is that when we workout, our muscles produce lactic acid � which is actually a waste produce of the exercise. The cool down process helps the muscles get rid of this.

How can you cool down? Several minutes � say 10 minutes � before you end your workout, start slowing down your movements, especially if you were focusing on cardio. Feel your heartbeat go slower and your breathing normalizing. Walk around for a few minutes at your normal pace. Do not forget to drink a bit of water at this time. You can also do some stretching exercises to cool down. Last, eat something around 45 minutes after you workout. This will boost your energy and hasten your body�s growth factor.

Originally posted on December 13, 2006 @ 9:23 am