What to do after exercising... Part 3

Yes, G&T/vodka, etc. may look like water... Thanks again for all your helpful suggestions after last week's blog on drinking after exercising!

​On to Part 3, which is all about keeping warm. It may feel a bit weird to be writing about this when it's the warmest it's been for ages, but it's really important now and especially when it's colder. The main reason to stay warm after exercise is to stop muscles from seizing up. After you've gone to the trouble of stretching after exercise (to get your muscles back to their pre-exercise length), you may as well keep them warm too, as they are less likely to get stiff. Research suggests that the lactic acid that accumulates in the muscles during exercise can be more easily dispersed when you stay warm afterwards.

​So warm down slowly and make sure you are wearing enough clothes too. This will really help the day(s) after exercising too, as you will find that you can move more easily and freely.

(P.S. No blog next week as I'm away. I'll be back for the final instalment of this series on 22nd June.)

​Here's what a bit of warmth and water has produced in my garden - another lovely peony!
​