Weight Loss Tips: Jumping Jack Warm-Up

01/04/2010 | 12:00 AM

Any well-executed exercise begins with a proper warm-up to get your heart pumping. Warming up before exercise strengthens your heart and helps prevent injuries by loosening muscles and increasing flexibility. Jumping jacks are an easy and effective warm-up, combining both cardio and strength training in one simple move. Doing 5 or 10 minutes of jumping jacks before beginning your regular workout will help prepare your heart muscle for the increased demand of intense exercise.

Directions:

Begin with your feet together, your arms at your sides and your head facing forward.
Jump slightly into the air and simultaneously spread your legs out to a shoulder-width stance, landing on the balls of your feet, and swinging your arms out to the sides, then over your head.
Without stopping, jump slightly again and reverse this motion, returning to your original starting position.
Repeat for 2-3 minutes.