Page 93 - Cosmopolitan - USA (February 2020)

they perform a move,
says Victoria. This is on 47% of you say
purpose—it engages Britney is the
Q I worked out yester- core muscles, helping most motivating
day and now it hurts them get more out of an gal on your
to live. Whence this exercise. But it’s fine not workout
cruelty? to be part of this group. playlist. (43%
say it’s Lizzo!)
A This is called delayed- You can easily exhale SOURCE: COSMO POLL
onset muscle soreness, without being loud
and it sucks. It’s the about it.
result of contracting
Q I’m doing crunches!
muscles over and over,
Where are my abs!
which tears their fibers,
says certified personal A Crunches *can* help
trainer Stephanie Sanzo, build up your abdomi-
creator of the Build pro- nal muscles...but getting
gram on the Sweat app. those suckers to pop is Q What’s a foam
Since your muscles then borderline impossible roller for, and why
rebuild and become without celebrity-level does it hurt so much?
stronger, this is a good cardio and a restrictive
thing. But work in some diet. For most people, A It’s basically a rolling
low-intensity cardio like six-packs basically pin for your muscles and
the elliptical to keep the come down to genetics fascia (the tissuey stuff
blood flowing through (sorry!), says Victoria. that surrounds your
your sore bod, she And TBH, sacrificing muscles). Using one
adds. It sounds awful, carbs and sweating stimulates fresh blood,
but it will help. 24/7 probably isn’t which helps muscles
worth it anyway, right? recover, says Matheny.
Q Are morning work- When you hit a spot
outs really better—or Q If I’m not on a tread- that hurts a lot (like, a Downloads one
running app....
can I skip them for the mill, what do I even do lot), that means you’ve
rest of my life? at the gym? landed on a knot in your awesome for increas-
A You can cancel them. A If you’re interested fascia. It does burn, but ing your heart rate or
“Physiologically, they in not running, body- it also reduces your sore- engaging your lower
aren’t superior to exercis- weight strength training ness the next day. body (smh, chair pose).
ing at any other point in also gets your heart rate Q So, is cardio a scam? And since the muscles
the day,” says certified up—and makes you in your thighs and butt
trainer Anna Victoria, stronger, says Albert A Okay, you don’t need are the biggest in your
creator of the Fit Body Matheny, cofounder of need it, but it’s help- bod, you might be
app. If you’re psyched to Soho Strength Lab in ful. Besides supplying missing out on a really
sweat at 6 p.m. or even New York City. His fave your muscles with oxy- good sweat sesh, says
9 p.m., go forth and get moves: burpees (yeah, gen and improving your Matheny. If you’re into it,
after it, my friend. sorry again), planks, endurance, it can kick- try throwing running and
side lunges, and push- start the recovery pro- weighted squats into
Q Should I be grunting? ups. Do 10 reps of each cess if you’re achy, says your routine.
A The reason so many for as many rounds as certified personal trainer Q 10,000 steps
people are so grunt-y you can for a total of Kelsey Wells, creator of or a workout:
is because they’re fully 17 minutes. Done. the PWR fitness program
on the Sweat app. Plus, Which is better?
exhaling before or while
cardio lowers your risks Walking is good, but it’s
for high blood pressure not that good. The 10K
and diabetes. quota is the very least
69% of you say your you should do, says
Q Can I just do yoga Matheny. Alas.
OPPOSITE PAGE: AL A MY. “Girl’s gotta sleep.” A Yoga and Pilates are
number one excuse
or nah?
not to exercise is
great core strengthen-
ers, but they’re not so

SOURCE: COSMO POLL

Februar y 2020 Cosmopolitan 83