Every workout should start and end the same way...with 3-5 minutes of glorious stretching. When you’re young, it’s not uncommon to feel a little invincible. You know, like stretching is a waste of time. Even if you do “stretch,” it’s a half-hearted attempt at touching your toes or holding your arm across your chest (I’m certainly not knocking this, as it is a great stretch and wonderful for post-workout).

As you get older, you begin to figure out that stretching offers some great benefits. It helps to maximize your athletic performance, aids in range of motion and flexibility, and decreases the likelihood of injury. Concluding your workout with another 3-5 minutes of stretches will help your muscles to cool down properly, reduce muscle tension which may have built up during your workout, and assist in recovery.

You were wondering when the “Fit” aspect of Fiscally Fit Foodie would come into play, weren’t you? Well, here is your first installment, AND you get a video (keep reading, it’s down there somewhere)...with music...and don’t act like you’re not impressed. While the fitness posts may not be as prolific as the recipe and food posts, they should be just as informative for those of you who are interested in a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle.

Picture the following scenario: you’re sitting at home, watching TV on the couch, and all of a sudden you get the feeling that you’re not maximizing your potential...you’re feeling slightly lazy, unproductive, and maybe even have a passing thought that a workout might be a good idea. Hey, it could happen. The problem is that your gym is closed or it is 10-15 minutes away from your house and it’d be inconvenient to go or maybe you don’t have a gym membership at all. One of the great things about push-ups is that you don’t need a gym to do them and they don’t cost you a thing except a little hard work. You aren’t opposed to that, are you? Great – let’s get started then!