5 Ways to Take Care of Yourself Before You Head Out To The Gym This Week

Physical exercise, if don't correctly can be a blessing, but if done wrong can be a curse to you and your body. Workout coaches tell us that warming up is critical when working out.  If you are an avid visitor to the gym, then you know that warming up and cooling down before and after a good workout is just as necessary as the workout itself. But what are you doing before you even begin to warm up?

Anne Pei suggests some actions that we should be taking before hitting the gym. Today on the Top 5 at 7:45, I'll highlight what coaches say we should be doing before getting physical.

1. Hydrate Yourself - Drink enough water well before you work out. Some people like to hydrate "as they go", but the thing to do is to be well hydrated "before" you go. One glass of water typically is good before you start, and is a good start at that. Water is best as energy drinks tend to carry unwanted calories.
2. Eating Right - You don't want to be stuffed, but eating a prior diet some time before hitting the gym is essential. If you work out on an empty stomach, you won't have enough energy to do the work out and you may end up feeling ill. Eat carbs and protein to help sustain you through the workout.
3. Stretch Those Muscles - To avoid pulling muscles, be sure to properly stretch them out. You don't want to walk away from a good work out pulling muscles. There are many good stretch exercises on the internet. Find the one that best suits you. 10 minutes is a good amount of stretch time for most people.
4. Psych Yourself - Not really, but mentally preparing yourself before working out will help you with goals and focus. Try to avoid distractions in the gym. It's o.k. to say hello to someone you know, but you could lose the "Mo" if you chat for long periods of time with the gym gabber.
5. Dress Right - Make sure you have the right shoes and support undergarments so you don't pull something. Wearing the right clothes for the event is very important.

The Top 5 at 7:45 airs weekdays with me, Gary Freeman and sponsored by First Education Federal Credit Union.