In today’s society there is a lot of emphasis put on weight and fitness. Sometimes fitness seems like an impossible goal to reach. While it requires commitment and work, it is far from impossible! With these simple hints, you’ll be on your way to a fit and healthy you.
Do not forget to do your cardio. Even if you are trying to just build muscle to your frame, cardio is essential. It adds some variety to your workout. It keeps your body limber and doesn’t allow your muscles to settle into a routine. Over time it is also a great way to build lean muscle.
Do not be afraid to motivate yourself before a work-out. There is no audience and no judgment if you want to give yourself a little pep-talk on the way into the gym. The benefits are very real; when you exercise with positivity you work out more successfully. Tell yourself you are going to have a great work-out and you probably will.
If you want to go to the next level, consider hiring a personal trainer. Not only can a trainer have expert information, but trainers are notorious for keeping clients stay motivated. Some people may not like having a personal trainer, but for some, it makes all the difference in the world.
No matter what your schedule is, make time for exercise. Now this doesn’t mean that you have to be able to make it to the gym each and every day. Just make sure that you are getting some movement in every day, whether that’s a walk at your lunch break, playing with the kids at the park or doing an exercise video before bed. Make a commitment to move your body every day.
Develop a fitness log that lists the exercises that you completed throughout your day. By recording data you will ensure that you push it as much as possible. You can tell how far you have walked in a day if you use a pedometer through the day. Maintaining your fitness information in writing assists you in keeping track of your goals.
Look for support all around you. It’s a lot easier to do a workout program when you are working with others. Check at your work, your neighborhood, even your monthly book club and see if anyone is interested in joining you on your fitness program. Having a partner makes the work even easier.
When you are trying to get into your best shape, make sure you get a solid routine in place. Many a fitness regiment has been quickly thwarted by making fitness plans that cannot fit into a real world schedule. Commit to yourself and your well-being by having a sensible plan.
You can save time in the gym by only resting as needed. It is not important to rest between every set. You can take rest breaks as needed. You will probably need less rest between your early sets, and more breaks as your muscles fatigue. This can cut your gym time by fifteen to twenty percent.
Although wearing a weight belt is ideal during overhead presses, squats, and other maximal lifts, it should not be worn all the time. By training regularly while wearing the weight belt, you might actually decrease the effectiveness and tone of your abdominal and lower back muscles, therefore sacrificing your hard-earned muscular strength.
If you dread the very idea of performing multiple sets of chin ups, try looking at it this way: rather than focusing on the effort needed to pull your entire body weight up, think about the effort needed just to pull your elbows down. Surprisingly, this makes the entire workout seem somewhat easier.
Stretch those hamstrings. The muscles at the back of your thighs, commonly called the hamstrings, are some of the most ignored muscles in the body. Tight hamstrings can lead to back problems, poor movement and a higher chance of injuries. Stretch them and enjoy a fuller range of motion for both your hips and lower back.
Avoid using the treadmill to warm-up with before you engage in your weight training. Instead, opt for a warm-up that will actually work the muscles that you will be using for lifting the weights. To do a full body warm-up that accomplishes this, use a bar and perform two sets of 10 reps of squats, bench-presses, dead-lifts, etc.
Before you begin your regular exercise routine, perform dynamic stretches instead of static stretches. Stretching is key to preventing injury during exercise, and dynamic stretching greatly reduces your risk of injury compared to static stretching. Dynamic stretching also provides you with a gradual warm up to your exercise, saving you time in your fitness routine.
Sleep with your legs off the bed. If you run and need to increase the flexibility of your calf muscles, try sleeping on your stomach with your legs off the mattress. This may be uncomfortable at first, but gravity takes over and will lightly stretch your muscles for you all night.
Try to reduce the amount of stress you have in your life. Find a nice relaxing place and maybe take a break from your work out and try and meditate or do some yoga. This will really help your fitness routine, and your body will love you for it.
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.
Following these tips will help you achieve a healthier and fitter you! Fitness is possible, whatever your current body type. Keep your eyes on the goal and don’t be discouraged by minor setbacks. Go at your own pace and avoid comparing yourself to others. Be proud of your small accomplishments along the way because they will eventually lead you to your fitness goal!