Whatever your goals — losing a few pounds or running in a triathlon — fitness is a key part of a well-rounded life. Since a lot of people don’t know where to start, we’ve done the work for you and compiled a list of tips and tricks to get you on your way.
Grow your own garden. It is not a simple task to start up a garden, it does take some effort. For example, a garden requires weeding, digging and a lot of squatting. Gardening is one of a lot of things people can do from home to stay physically fit.
When working out your abs, don’t use only crunches. A study at a prominent university revealed that even 250,000 crunches only burns enough calories to lose just one pound. Because of this, crunches alone are not sufficient for a total ab workout. This is why you are going to want to do a wide variety of abdominal workouts.
Personal Trainers
Personal trainers are often a valuable thing for those truly committed to raising their fitness. Not only can a trainer have expert information, but trainers are notorious for keeping clients stay motivated. Personal trainers don’t mesh with everyone’s style, but they can have a huge effect on a person’s fitness results.
One simple way to increase your muscle mass is to lift lots of weight just a few times. First, pick a muscle group, like your pectoral muscles. Make sure you do a set of reps using light weights. It is a good idea to do approximately 15-20 reps with the lighter weight. The second set should be 6 to 8 reps at a heavier weight. Increase the weight by 5 pounds and repeat for the third set.
You need to develop a strong core. A strong and sturdy core comes in handy with any exercises you choose to perform. Strengthening your core can be achieved with good old-fashioned sit-ups. In addition, sit-ups help to improve your body’s range of motion. Larger range of motion means a more difficult and rewarding workout.
You will receive greater benefit from running outdoors than using a treadmill. A great run through a city park or down a country road is both scenic and exhilarating so save the treadmill for inclement weather when getting out is impossible.
“All crunches, all the time” is not the proper motto to follow if you want washboard abs. Abdominal exercises do strengthen your muscles; however, they don’t burn belly fat. If you want flat abs, you have to take care of your diet and do a lot of cardio and weight training to cut body fat.
You can boost your workouts by controlling your breathing. When performing situps and crunches, you should exhale deeply at the point where your shoulders are positioned at their highest. Exhaling deeply causes muscles to contract and forces them to work more intensely on your behalf.
There are few exercises as great as kickboxing. It is one great way to work many muscles and work up a sweat. A kickboxing routine will not only help you burn off a ton of calories, it will also be very effective at increasing your strength.
Keep up your workout routine on the weekends. Some people use the weekends for vacation from most responsibilities, but you shouldn’t stop exercising. Weight loss needs to be on your mind 7 days a week. It’s not a good idea to slack off on the weekends just to have to make it up again that Monday.
Before you use the gym’s equipment, clean it off. Remember that the last person that used the equipment probably left germs on the equipment. A visit to the gym should leave you feeling fit, not sick!
The benefits of getting fit don’t stop at your physical body. If you start a new workout routine, your mental health will improve as well. This is because exercise releases endorphins. You can be much more confident in yourself after you look and feel good. You are essentially only a couple workouts away from being happy.
Many people are under the impression that they are able to do abdominal exercises daily. However, that is not healthy for the stomach muscles. Like other muscles, abs require periodic rest and recovery. You should attempt to let your abs rest about 48 to 72 hours after you work them out.
If you want to improve your speed and stamina when running, emulate the Kenyans. The Kenyan method is to go slow for the first third of a long run. As your run progresses, gradually increase the pace. During the middle, run at your usual pace. When you are on your last leg, sprint! By regularly doing this, you’ll experience significant improvements in your endurance and speed very soon.
After reading through the contents of this article, you should be better equipped to begin working towards your goal of getting physically fit. If you stick with your routine and stay motivated, you’re sure to make progress. You will be glad that you put in all the time and effort that you did as you age.