5 Tips To Prepare Before Exercising

Do you really know how to exercise for the best benefits possible? You may think, at first glance, that some of the advice we are going to give you is not good. Or that you will tire more quickly and not be able to achieve your goals. Indeed, exercising requires following some rules.

Before going to the gym or working out at home, take a few precautions to avoid injuring yourself. But also to make the most of your potential. Here is a list of the 5 things you must do or not do before you start exercising.

1. Sleep before exercising

It is normal for you to want to be well rested before engaging in physical activity. However, if you sleep excessively before a training phase, you will hinder good physical development.

By sleeping more than 30 minutes before exercising, your body will go into deep sleep. Like it does when you go to bed at night.

A nap lasting longer than 30 minutes will make you dizzy and tire you more than you might think.

If you find that you need to take a nap before exercising, set an alarm clock to not exceed 15 to 20 minutes of rest.

You will have time to close your eyes and rest your body. But without numbing your mind and making it think it’s time to sleep.

2. Stretching before exercising

When you were still in school, we’re sure your sports teachers told you that you need to stretch your muscles well before doing any physical activity.

However, experts now tell us that stretching before playing sports actually does more harm than good.

Static stretching before exercise decreases muscle strength, but also increases the risk of straining the muscles much more than necessary.

This increases the risk of suffering from tears and injuries.

Instead of using static stretching methods before a workout, warm up your muscles by moving them in another way.

You can run, do short jumps, or use an exercise bike to gradually warm up your muscles.

Reserve the static stretches for the routine you will be performing after your workout.

3. Interval training

These workouts alternate high intensity efforts with cuts of several seconds. They interrupt the body’s natural breathing by requiring it to drop and ramp up.

But that’s not all. They also decrease our stamina and strength very quickly, which is not our goal when playing sports. This generalized weakness can continue after training.

You should always start your sports session with cardiovascular exercises. You don’t need to run a sprint right away, then rest and start over.

Instead of doing high-intensity workouts, instead do stationary cardiovascular exercises, which don’t vary the amount of energy you need to provide much.

4. Eat too much or drink too much before exercising

After eating, your body immediately initiates the digestion process. What we don’t always take into account is how much energy it needs to set this process up.

If we consider this aspect, we can fully validate the theory according to which one should not immediately go swimming after having eaten.

If you try to exercise during this digestive process, you will put too much strain on your body. This can cause you stomach cramps as well as nausea.

Moreover, if you consume drinks with high sugar content, you will be pushing your body beyond its limits in a very short time. He will quickly find himself unable to complete the training session you are trying to impose on him.

Try to maintain a healthy diet, especially before exercising. Your body will thus have enough energy to achieve what you demand of it.

Eat foods suitable for exercise, such as fruits, cereals and yogurt, and avoid sweets at all costs.

Keep in mind that most energy drinks contain a high amount of sugar. You need to pay attention to the labels of the products you buy to know if your favorite energy drink is helping you, or if it is bad for your body.

5. Consume supplements 

If you get used to eating well before exercising, you will get all the vitamins and minerals you need, without having to take any supplements.

However, if you decide to take it anyway, don’t overdo it. Taking too many “products” can cause heart arrhythmias, nausea and anxiety.

In the long run, the downsides of these substances outweigh their benefits, although they can give you a boost before you start a workout.

If you decide to take supplements, pay close attention to their label. You need to know exactly what you are going to ingest before introducing them into your body.

You have to know how they will affect your body and know the contraindications to which they are subject. You also need to know their potential side effects. This will help you make the right decision.

You can consume it in moderation to improve your physical resistance, but do not overdo it or you will put your health at risk.