Lack of physical fitness is a very common problem among people today, and it’s mostly due to lack of proper education on how to be fit. If you’re one of those people who don’t know how to improve their fitness, read on for some great tips on exercising, which will have you feeling great, in no time!
One of the best ways to stay fit is to have a fitness buddy. This is someone who is committed to exercising with you on a regular basis. You can go to the gym with your fitness buddy or just do fun forms of exercise like walking, hiking, surfing, swimming, bicycling or dancing. Having a fitness buddy keeps you motivated!
If you are able to, exercise first thing in the morning. It will get your metabolism going for the day. Feeling sluggish mid-morning or mid-afternoon? Get up from whatever you’re doing and take a 10-15 minute walk. Drink a couple of bottles of water while you’re at it. Do not grab that candy bar!!!
Keep track of what you have been doing, and what is working for you. Evaluate what exercises you enjoy and what left you bored. A fitness plan should never be stagnant. Keep switching things up and changing things that aren’t working for you. A fitness plan that is set in stone is a fitness plan you’ll stop using.
If your workout mode of choice is biking or riding on a stationary bicycle, target a range between 80 and 110 revolutions per minute (RPMs). At this rate, you will find that you are able to ride for longer periods of time and are less likely to experience muscle strain and fatigue.
To ride a bike more efficiently, try practicing one-legged cycling. This will cause you to focus on pulling up more at the bottom of your stroke to cause more of your major leg muscles to have to work harder. Lock both feet into the pedals, but keep the one leg limp and cycle with the other for about 30 seconds. Then repeat with the other leg.
Try increasing your foot speed in speed sports by doing some foot exercises. Start by placing your feet hip-width apart and placing your hands at your sides. Stretch one leg out in front of you and touch it with the opposite hand, then lower it back to the floor. Do the same with the other hand and foot, except do it from behind you. Do these for about 20 seconds. Try to pick-up speed doing them for maximum results.
When trying to build more muscle, try adding more meat to your diet everyday. Try consuming about 4-8 ounces a day for the best results. The protein in meat is what helps increase and build muscle tissue. Good examples of meat you should eat everyday are, chicken, fish and turkey.
A great fitness tip is to start performing preacher curls. Preacher curls are one of the best exercises you can do to build up your biceps. They help build up the lower portion of your biceps as well as your forearms. Good form while doing preacher curls is important.
If you have multiple children, try and find a sport they all like doing. If they can do the sport together, they’ll be able to encourage each other and push each other. Not only that, but having a sibling to compete with may give them an extra push to put all their effort into it.
Add your workout to your daily schedule, and follow it. Many people say that they do not have the time to exercise, but if you add it to your calendar and try it out, you will probably find that you still accomplished everything else you had to do. Lose the excuse, and get to work!
Never use a weight belt. While many trainers will tell you that they are great for everything, weight belts actually weaken your abdominal and lower back muscles. They put heavy pressure on muscles you are not working, causing your muscles to pull from areas they normally wouldn’t, namely your abs and back.
To save yourself from straining your back when lifting heavy objects (like weights) over your head, be sure to squeeze your butt muscles during the activity. When you clench those muscles, it actually forces you into an alignment that helps stabilize the spine and reduces the chances of a serious back injury.
Increase your starting pace each time you run. To help increase your speed overall when you run, start out running faster than your regular pace. Over time, your body will recognize this as your normal pace, and you will be able to increase it again. Keep doing this until you hit your maximum running speeds.
Whenever you are squatting, you should try to keep your heels on the floor. If you can’t do this, then your hip flexors are not loose enough. Therefore, you need to perform the following stretch. Hold on the squat rack and squat until you have thighs that are parallel to the ground. Hold this position for about thirty seconds. Stand and repeat around five times.
A great fitness tip is to search online for new exercises. There are a lot of great sites that have tons of resources including new workout routines and different exercises. If you find your current workout routine getting stale, go online to find and try out some new exercises.
You can replace high-performance sports drinks with plain water unless your fitness program involves strenuous exertions lasting more than an hour. The chief selling point – and cost justification – for engineered sports drinks is electrolyte replacement. The plain fact is, until your workouts break the one-hour mark, you are simply not going to be sweating long enough to lose the trace minerals that sports drinks replace.
Now that you’re educated on the proper ways to get fit and stay that way, all that’s left is to do it! Don’t stay one of the many people who are depressed and have health problems related to a lack of fitness. Start applying what you’ve learned and become a healthier person.