Friends and Fitness Enthuisasts,
If you are feeling particularly sore but your muscles aren't swelling from injury, try some heat! The ice pack I wrote about in an earlier post also works as a heating pad. Simply microwave it and you're set. Also be sure to wrap a towel around this one before you pick it up because it'll be super hot.
In case you were wondering, there isn't any official research on the effectiveness of heat on sore muscles that I could find. However, from personal experience, I can tell you that it feels wonderful. Maybe you already knew this; maybe you're like me and forgot about doing it until someone (like your mother, thanks mom) reminds you. Either way, enjoy!
In health,
Lauren
Showing posts with label muscles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label muscles. Show all posts
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
223/365 Muscles 101
Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,
After two days of skiing, my legs are feeling the burn. This has never been an issue for me but, having become a runner of some degree, I can understand now why this is cropping up.
Your muscle make up was pretty much set the day you were born though there is small room for flexibility to changing it. We humans have 3 kinds of muscles that we've found so far (some say that there's a 4th, type IIx but for now we'll stick to the following three). There's type I, type IIa, and type IIb.
Type I: Think about your favorite Fido. Dogs can run for days because of the muscle fibers they have. These muscles are your aerobic fibers meaning that they are best for endurance. The main fuel source for these muscles are your fat stores. Think back to those cross country runners in high school, skinny as rails right? Their healthy, aerobic activity, dedication, and genes are to thank for that.
Type II: Now think about your favorite feline. Cats start out on the floor and in one single bound they're on top of the piano. They are anaerobic, able to create a lot of power very quickly but, only in short bursts. These muscles are for sprinting. From type II, you get IIa and IIb; one is quicker to contract than the other. One is also argued to be able to change its type so that it can be more anaerobic or aerobic based on how you train it.
My point in sharing this lesson with you is that some of us are genetically predisposed to be better sprinters or better endurance runners. Still, you can only let your genes define you to a certain extent. I used to think I was a sprinter on account of my large thighs as a kid but, now I think I could be more of an endurance person. The only difference between me and my younger self is that I've given myself the chance to be good at one or the other.
In health,
Lauren
After two days of skiing, my legs are feeling the burn. This has never been an issue for me but, having become a runner of some degree, I can understand now why this is cropping up.
Your muscle make up was pretty much set the day you were born though there is small room for flexibility to changing it. We humans have 3 kinds of muscles that we've found so far (some say that there's a 4th, type IIx but for now we'll stick to the following three). There's type I, type IIa, and type IIb.
Type I: Think about your favorite Fido. Dogs can run for days because of the muscle fibers they have. These muscles are your aerobic fibers meaning that they are best for endurance. The main fuel source for these muscles are your fat stores. Think back to those cross country runners in high school, skinny as rails right? Their healthy, aerobic activity, dedication, and genes are to thank for that.
Type II: Now think about your favorite feline. Cats start out on the floor and in one single bound they're on top of the piano. They are anaerobic, able to create a lot of power very quickly but, only in short bursts. These muscles are for sprinting. From type II, you get IIa and IIb; one is quicker to contract than the other. One is also argued to be able to change its type so that it can be more anaerobic or aerobic based on how you train it.
My point in sharing this lesson with you is that some of us are genetically predisposed to be better sprinters or better endurance runners. Still, you can only let your genes define you to a certain extent. I used to think I was a sprinter on account of my large thighs as a kid but, now I think I could be more of an endurance person. The only difference between me and my younger self is that I've given myself the chance to be good at one or the other.
In health,
Lauren
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