Whether you have already embarked on a personal journey to fitness or you have just decided that getting fit is something you want to do, you can probably use some advice on the subject. A few quick fitness tips – like the ones below – can help jump-start the beginning of a great fitness routine or add variety to a well-established one.
Set realistic fitness goals by considering the time you have available and your current level of physical fitness. By setting realistic goals you are less likely to get discouraged and give up. Goals also help you track your progress so you can adjust your goals as necessary to achieve an optimum fitness level.
Avoid trying to hack a basketball down when trying to take it from an opponent to avoid a foul. Instead try flipping the ball upward from underneath. This is more of a subtle, yet surprising technique that your opponent will most likely not see coming. It’s also much easier to grab it from a height than from the ground.
Do not exercise on an empty stomach. Be sure to fill your gas tank before you start your workout. It is best to eat a healthy carbohydrate, 30 to 60 minutes before exercising. Some great ideas for pre-workout snacks are yogurt and fruit, a small bowl of oatmeal or a banana.
To get the best results from your weight training workouts, be sure to limit them to no more than one hour. After you’ve worked out for 60 minutes or longer, your body starts making more cortisol. This stress hormone can block the production of testosterone and lead to muscle wasting.
Adjust your fitness routine in the fall to take advantage of the weather. There are a lot of great exercises that you can do outside, including walking, hiking and riding a bike. Visit a park that you’ve never been to before or take your dog out on a run. Raking leaves can even help you burn calories! Finding creative ways to enjoy the weather will make exercising fun.
As you age, hold your stretches for longer than you used to. Older muscles tighten and get fatigued much more easily, so you need to spend extra time loosening them up to prevent injury. Doubling the time you spend on stretches, for about every ten years of exercise, is the best method.
To maintain the benefits of your workout, drink a few supplements after you are finished. Your muscles will be craving protein, so chug a pint of a protein shake to replenish their supply. Studies have shown that doing this increases the ability of your muscles to maintain the gain from the workout.
Don’t anchor your feet when doing situps. Anchoring your feet can cause you to “cheat” on your situps by using your legs instead of your abdominal muscles, limiting the effectiveness of your workout. Anchoring your feet can also cause injury to your back. Instead, try doing situps on a medicine ball.
Even after you get comfortable and experienced with your fitness routine, you should limit intense weight training workouts to no more than an hour at a time. When your muscles are subjected to extreme stress, your body begins producing cortisol. This is a hormone that interferes with your body’s testosterone balance and reduces or eliminates the benefits of continued weight training.
In order to achieve a physically fit body, it is necessary to constantly exercise on a regular basis With that said, it is very important that you protect your neck while doing these activities. Be sure that your head is aligned properly, and this will greatly reduce the strain in the neck.
To build up shoulder and arm strength you should work on pull-ups. Pull-ups work out different muscles based on the distance between your hands. The further out they are the more the back muscles are used to pull you up. The closer in they are the more they use your arms and shoulders to pull you up. Pull-ups are one of the best exercises to perform because they have very little capability of damaging muscles.
Remember how much fun riding a bike was when you were a kid? If you’re looking for a way to burn some calories, try hopping back on a bike. A lot of cities have designated bike trails. These are great because most of the time you don’t have to worry about watching out for cars (you do have to watch out for joggers, though). Be sure to wear a helmet when you go out.
Be consistent with your workouts. Remember that two 90 minute workouts are not the same as six 50 minute workouts. Theoretically they are burning the same calories, but having something more attainable each day as opposed to cramming it into two days, will benefit you long term and be more worthwhile.
If you’re thinking about fitness you shouldn’t just be thinking about just diet and exercise; don’t forget stretching! Stretching may feel a bit uncomfortable, but try to make sure you always do them before any workout as this will prevent injury to yourself, and will make your muscles and body more willing to accept the challenge. Also, don’t rush your stretching, do it before and after your workout to relax yourself and gear yourself up for the rest of your day.
A great way to improve your fitness level is to set a long term goal with a stop date. Choosing a targeted date for your goals will push you to complete them in a timely manner. You can also set up a series of short term goals that will help you in the long run.
A great piece of exercise equipment to burn calories fast while working your entire body is a rowing machine. It’s an all in one machine that works your arms, both your upper and lower back, the muscles in your chest, abdominal muscles and legs. The rowing machine is a great piece of fitness equipment.
One thing most good fitness regimens have in common is personalization. You need a fitness routine that works for you, not a stringent course you must follow exactly. A flexible routine can easily incorporate the new fitness ideas you pick up, and new ideas can keep anyone’s fitness program from getting stale.