Many people are under the misconception that if they are thin they are fit. There are many thin people who have high cholesterol, high blood pressure and are really, not as fit as they think they are. There are some things that you should consider if you want to know just how fit you really are.
Involve your entire family in getting fit. Choose active things to do for weekend entertainment, or go for an evening walk after dinner. If you instill fitness as part of daily life to your children now, they will be less likely to be overweight or unhealthy later in life.
One of the best fitness buddies you can choose is a good dog who will always enjoy doing anything you want to do! When you have a canine friend to keep you company, you will have plenty of motivation to go for daily walks, bike rides, throw a Frisbee or ball in the park. Having a good dog to care for will keep you active and fit!
Have a timer handy when doing exercises at home. When using an exercise ball it is helpful to time each exercise so you know how long you are in each position. Holding each position for a specified length of time helps you build muscles and reach your fitness goals.
Keep your goals short and simple as you start on a new fitness program. You can easily overwhelm yourself if, after a lifetime of being a couch potato, you decide you should be able to run 10 miles at full speed on the treadmill. At the beginnin, keep your goals simple. Start out with just a walk for a few minutes every other day. Work up to longer and more frequent walks as you progress.
Hiking is a great way to stay fit without having to spend a day at the gym. A state park is a great place to hike, sinc most of them have well groomed, predesignated trails. Not only will you get a cardiovascular workout, but there’s a good chance you will also take in some spectacular views.
Believe it or not, your body needs sugar after a workout not just something full of protein. Try to get at least 20 grams along with your supply of protein. Protein travels by way of sugar to the muscles you just worked in your routine. Just make sure to limit the rest of your sugar for the day as to not undo what you have done.
Don’t just focus on your ab muscles when working out, make sure to add lower back sets to each set of ab exercises you do too. If you just focus only on your abs in your routine, you could be developing poor posture or you could start experiencing lower back pain.
You should count your repetitions backward when you are working out. When you count backward, you begin to think about how many you have left once you start getting to the end of the set. You will not be thinking about how many repetitions you have done, which can be hurt your motivation to finish.
Try to engage in more cardio during your workouts. Doing so regularly can even cause your pulse rate to become naturally slower. Try aiming it below 60 bpm, as this is what many fit individuals have theirs at. This kind of exercising makes the heart more fit, which also makes the heart much stronger.
Watch less television. Merely sitting and watching a few hours of tv shows means you are not up and around, which means that your body’s metabolism is slowing down. Worse yet, chances of becoming obese increase with the amount of television that you watch. Instead of watching television, try taking a walk or playing a game.
When exercising frequently, it is important to give the body breaks to rebuild the damaged muscles. If not, the body will not have time to grow. If one wants to take breaks while still being able to exercise, it can be done by alternating the muscle groups that one exercises. This will allow for the best of both worlds.
A great tip to you help you get fit is to join a rowing team. Rowing is one of the most strenuous exercises you can do and it also helps build up your upper body. You’ll also get the chance to enjoy some nice scenery as you exercise.
A great tip when your calves feel tight after running is to sleep on your stomach while hanging your feet off the bed. The reason for this is because gravity will assist you in stretching your calf muscles through the entire night. Try this one night, and your calves will feel amazing the next morning.
If you have a weak spot on your body, it is beneficial to work on this area first when developing a fitness routine. If you feel like you are weak in the legs, go to the gym and run on the treadmill. Improving your weakest link will enhance your overall fitness results.
When you get home after a long workout, make sure to get as much rest as possible. As you sleep, your body builds muscles, which will increase your chances of looking the way that you want. Also, sleep helps to reduce anxiety, which can go a long way in hitting your fitness goal.
If you are trying to focus on losing belly fat, do not work on your abs. Although you will gain muscle, you are not losing fat. It is okay to do sit ups and crunches, but incorporate more aerobic exercises into your routine in order to lose unwanted belly fat.
The information that has been provided above should have given you an idea for just how fit you really are. If you are not as fit as you would like to be, it is important for you to start making changes now while you can still fix your overall fitness.