Are Your Muscles Healing Properly?
Are your muscles healing well? Remember that a muscle shouldn't stay sore for more than a week, but it's more normal for them to feel better in a day or two. Make sure you're stretching the muscles to help them heal quickly. Don't forget that it's during the healing process that the muscles burn calories and fat.
When I was 14 and on the swim team in high school, I thought stretching was for wimps. Years later when I became a personal trainer, I found out that stretching was actually an important part of the workout, and that you can actually gain strength and lose weight faster if you include stretching in your workout. When I started stretching, my results quickly improved.
On the My Fitness Trainer program, you will only work each muscle 1-2 times per week. This allows for healing time. If your workout today focuses on back muscles and your back muscles are still sore from your last workout, it's too soon to hit them again. Your muscles are still healing and burning fat. Instead, focus on another body part, or do some extra cardio. Not sure what to do? Check out the Exercise Library in the Member section for hundreds of exercise choices with instructions and photos.
To help your muscles heal quickly, stretch them frequently and for at least a minute each time (with no bouncing!) For added comfort and healing, use a heat pad or a rice sock (a sock filled with rice and heated for 2 minutes in the microwave). A hot bath or shower can also help.
If you're not yet a member of My Fitness Trainer, but you're ready to get your own muscles sore, click here for the world's best online weight loss program. You can sign up for a free membership and see how easy it can be.
Do you still have questions about muscle healing and fat loss? Want to tweak your online weight loss program to get the best results? You can email a certified personal trainer by clicking on the "Contact" link at the top of your page, or by clicking here.
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