It is never too late in life to start a fitness regime. If it is an area that you have not paid attention to in the past, there are some fundamental items that you need to consider before you think about fit and toned once more. After all, we don’t want you hurting yourself. Here is a list of things you should consider.
In order to maximize your fitness routine, be sure to keep your workouts under an hour. This will help to prevent injury, as well as get the most out of your workout. You can actually lose muscle and testosterone because your body goes into a minor state of shock due to release of a chemical called cortisol.
Even if you don’t feel like working out on a given day, at least try for five or ten minutes. You might find that once you get going, you can do more than that. Even if you don’t gain a second wind, a few minutes is better than nothing at all.
Always have a backup plan for your workouts. If you were planning on doing an hour of cardio and strength training, but then can’t get to the gym on time, you’ll have an alternative workout. This way, you don’t waste time wondering which exercises to skip, and you still gain maximum benefit from the time you do have.
Make sure you make every effort to do as much exercise as you can throughout the day. It can be something like choosing to ride your bicycle to work instead of driving if you live close enough. You can also try to park a couple blocks away from work or the store to give you more walking time throughout the day, every little effort helps.
In order to maximize your fitness potential when lifting weights, be sure to eat plenty of meat. Meat contains plenty of protein and other nutrients that aid in muscle growth. Lean meat is best, while turkey chicken, and fish are good for you as well. The recommended serving is about 6 ounces a day.
Develop strength in your thighs in order to protect your knees from injury. Tearing a ligament on your knees is a very common sports injury. Target both your hamstrings and your quadriceps to ensure that your knees have enough strength. Leg extensions and curls are great exercises to accomplish this.
When working out, is it important that you drink plenty of water. Drinking water while working out will maintain proper hydration, which is vital during any heavy exercising. Being hydrated will help you to work out harder and you will be able to exercise for a longer period of time. Always keep a water bottle with you and just keep drinking!
Buy several sets of exercise clothes making sure one item matches all of the rest. Why spend time searching through your closet and drawers for something that matches when you could be using that time to exercise? No one really cares what you are wearing so base your exercise clothing choices on convenience rather than vanity.
Exercising with a friend or a group of friends is a great way to keep yourself motivated. Not only is it a lot of fun to work out or play sports with friends, a friendly rivalry will keep you on your toes and at the top of your game. Just make sure that the rivalry doesn’t get in the way of your friendship.
Swimming is a great way to stay in shape. Swimming burns calories, builds lean muscle and cardiovascular stamina but isn’t hard on your joints like impact sports (such as running or cycling). If you don’t have your own pool, some gyms offer indoor and outdoor pools or you can join a community pool.
Get familiar with the fitness club’s services and training offers. Most clubs offer personal trainers, weight training, exercise equipment and different training classes. Some locations even have swimming pools, saunas, inside tracks and offer professional massages. Be sure to use all the services you need and the club has to offer.
Fitness can be achieved by burning extra calories while doing mundane activities. If you go shopping, park further away from the store so you are encouraged to walk a little more. Go out and walk your dog but take a longer walk than usual to burn a few extra calories. Adding extra movement to any daily activity will help increase the calories burned and help you towards your fitness goal.
A vital fitness tip is not to exercise when you’re sick. When you’re sick, your body is trying to heal itself. Your body can’t effectively build muscle and fight off an illness at the same time. So you have to have a break from working out until you feel better. Take this time to catch up on some sleep, and don’t skip any meals.
As you age, your muscles become less flexible and you will, therefore, need to hold your stretches longer before exercising. If you are 40 or younger, hold each stretch for about 30 seconds. If you are older than 40, you will want to stretch for at least 60 seconds to loosen your muscles.
In a fitness program centered around running, the exercise schedule should include long-term allowances for recovery and rest. One week out of every six needs to be a light week with sharply reduced goals for speed and distance. A good rule of thumb is to work out only half as hard during this rest week.
Get the whole family involved by creating exercises for everyone. You can all take turns picking different types of activities to do every week. Everyone can keep a clear log of their own fitness goals and activities, and you can all compare your efforts and results. Helping the family see what they’re good at can make everyone feel food.
Using the advice above, a little imagination, and after obtaining the all-clear from your doctor, you will be in a position to bounce into a fitness routine with vim and vigor. Remember to take things slowly at first, and build up your momentum as your fitness and energy levels increase. Your body will definitely thank you for your efforts.