Cool-Down or Not?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/health/nutrition/15best.html?ref=nutrition

I’m sure at some point all of you reading this have been on a tread mill or some type of exercise equipment before. I’m also pretty sure that everyone has more than likely finished a programmed workout and when they were finished the machine said or just went into the cool-down mode. I was reading on the New York Times today in the Fitness and Nutrition area and came across an article about the cool-down after exercising and it lets you no if it is actually something that matters. This question really bothered a couple who rode bikes together. They ride a lot and when it comes to the last mile the husband and wife race to their home. One time while they were performing their race, their neighbor saw them jump off their bike and race to the door and sit down. He approached them and asked them how they did that. They didn’t know at first what he was talking about and when he let them know they did not perform a cool-down it really got their minds wondering if they were hurting themselves from not cooling down after their workout/bike ride. The cool-down is apparently in text books across America, in fitness magazines, and in all sorts of other similar materials. After a little research this couple found out that most of these materials are wrong. Cooling down after a work out is actually almost worthless. It is more or less just a myth that sounds appropriate and not really necessary. After much research they found that many doctors have concluded the cool-down to not be much help at all, just a bit more time on the machine or hill with a slower pace.

I’ve been working out for years and have always tried to finish my cool-down program after my jogs. I’m glad to know that they really aren’t that important. I always thought I was cheating myself for not completing them at times and now I know I wasn’t. (What a relief.) I now think that they were a waste of time because when I work out I loose the “zone” I was in because of the cool-down. I sometimes will even catch myself preparing for the cool-down when putting my running/jogging times in.

I reacted this way because I am overjoyed from this article I found. I hate the cool-down when working out and now I will probably never do one again. I’m so glad I came across this article; it saves me five minutes of boredom every workout.

Hello tread mill.