Recent studies have shown that when people are given specific strategies to improve their activity levels, their motivation is higher than people that are starting out on their own without useful information to change their behaviors about exercise. The following strategies are simple, yet action-oriented to get you started on implementing a fitness program into your life.
Increasing blood circulation is the best way to carry essential nutrients to the cells in our bodies and helps to eliminate waste and toxins built-up in our systems. A good way to improve blood circulation is by simply stretching. Stretching will help reduce injury before exercising and increase muscle tone.
The best way to ensure you stick with getting regular exercise is to do things you enjoy doing. Getting an effective workout does not have to mean working out on boring machines like treadmills. Instead, find something you love to do like joining a dance class or riding a bike.
Pay up front for the gym and your trainer! Sometimes money is the best commitment we can make that will insure we will exercise regularly. If we have already paid the fees for the gym and for our trainer we will be much more likely to take advantage of the services we’ve paid for!
Forward lunges are a very effective way to increase the strength of your leg muscles, but reverse lunges really step up the pace. During forward lunges, one leg is active for only half of each lunge. Backward lunges engage the front leg for the entirety of the workout, which quickly tones and strengthens the muscles.
If you are beginning an exercise routine, do not push yourself too hard. If you feel pain, take a break or sit out the remainder of the exercise. When beginning, your body needs to slowly get used to the exercises. You can seriously hurt yourself if you try to push yourself too hard. Just remember that your tolerence will increase with time.
If you have access to an old large tire, such as one off of a piece of farm or construction equipment, it can be used in fitness exercises. One such exercise is, flipping the tire over and over again for a certain distance. The resulting work out will greatly improve fitness.
A great fitness tip is to start performing alternating dumbbell curls. Dumbbell curls can be difficult when you try to lift with both arms at the same time. By alternating each arm for every rep, you’ll be able to lift much more weight and also do more reps.
A counter intuitive tip when it comes to fitness is to not overdo it. Perhaps you don’t have the same problem as most people and you are super motivated and you go to the gym nearly every day. This is great, except sometimes you may push hard, end up injured, and not getting in any sort of fitness related activity.
Dribble a basketball in heavy gloves. Doing this will allow you to learn other methods of hand control, since you cannot feel the ball. Famous basketball stars credit this method with helping them learn hand control, and studies show that it really does help. Get some thick gloves and dribble away!
Do not buy in to the “only crunches” mentality. It does not matter how much you work out your abdominal muscles. If the rest of you is out of shape, you will not be able to get that washboard stomach you are hoping for. Use full body exercises to slim yourself down and then focus on the parts you want.
Get rid of that pouch with your pooch! Taking your dog for a walk or run has always been a great way to get in shape. Now, many fitness and canine enthusiasts are taking it one step further. Try any number of new pet-friendly workouts that either use Fido as resistance or give you a workout while training your dog.
Do not make excuses for not working out on a regular schedule. Your fitness is important. Without it, all the other things you are making excuses to do, are pointless. Schedule times to work out, even if you can only devote 10-15 minutes. Your body will be glad for the maintenance and structure and will reward you, accordingly.
Arrange a neighborhood DVD swap. If you are getting bored with your same old workout DVD, gather some friends and schedule a swap. Every week or two pass your DVD on to your neighbor and receive a new one from another neighbor. This way, you don’t have to invest in a whole fitness DVD library, but you can still try out different workouts.
Summer heat can really make it hard to get out and get the exercise that you want and need to get. Try to drink a low calorie slushie before or after your run. It will cool your body temperature down and give you a refreshing way to rehydrate after a long run.
To meet your fitness goals, keep an eye on your nutrition. If you want to get the full benefit of your workouts, don’t forget to drink water and eat a balanced diet rich in protein, simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Calculate your daily caloric needs and keep track of your intake.
If you want to get in the best shape of your life, make sure to include dead lifts in your training. Barbell dead lifts are a classic exercise that works every single muscle in your body from head to toe. Start of with a very light weight and learn to use a perfect form so that you do not injure yourself when the weights are increased.
Staying on your fitness program is the single-most important gift you can give yourself and family. By significantly increasing your activity levels, the pay-off will be that you will feel better, look better, and the exercise will increase your energy level. Give yourself the gift of health by implementing a fitness and exercise plan into your life.