As you get older it is very important to maintain a good level of fitness. In this article we will show you different ways in which you can keep yourself in good shape. Apply the following advice on fitness to your every day life, so as you age, you can better adapt to the changes in your body.
In order to maximize your fitness routine, be sure to always stretch. Stretching will help to prevent injury. Many times you may think that you do not have to stretch, or that if your exercise is light enough that your body will stretch itself. This is never the case, and becomes more important the older you get. Always stretch to prevent injury and get the most out of your workout.
In order to maximize your fitness routine at the gym, be sure to only rest when needed between sets. This will save time, at the gym and get you moving to other activities quicker. Later on in your workout you’ll need more rests, however you can start it off strong without any ill effects.
Try to work out in the morning. Why? Anything can happen to you during the day that makes you tired, stressed and flat out reluctant to exercise. By starting your day with exercise, you get it out of the way and it’s done. You can go on with the rest of your day knowing you’ve already done something good for your body.
Change your fitness routine. We all get bored with things in our life, and a fitness schedule is no different. By trying a new form of exercise, you will find that you are suddenly invigorated and ready to put new effort into keeping fit. Change your routine, try a completely different exercise plan, and think of it as a new start.
Avoid using sit-ups as your only stomach muscle exercise. One study found that 250,000 crunches burns only a single pound of fat. Relying only on crunches means that you are not working as hard as you should be. Find alternative ways to work your abdominals during your routine.
Do not regularly use a weight training belt when lifting weights. With continued, regular use, wearing a weight belt will hinder muscle growth and weaken your lower back and abdominal muscles. Only wear your weight training belt when attempting max lifts such as deadlifts, squats, and overhead presses.
You should always hold your stretches. It does not matter your age, if you are not holding the stretch for at least thirty seconds, you are not maintaining your flexibility. The older you get, the longer you need to hold the pose to achieve the same result. Add thirty additional seconds if you are over forty.
It is possible to speed up recovery time from a particularly hard workout. The day after your hard workout, lightly exercise the same muscles. Use weights which are about twenty percent of your max weight and do two sets of twenty-five repetitions. This will help to deliver nutrients and blood to muscles to help them recover at a faster rate.
A good way to enhance your tennis game or racquetball game is to strengthen your forearms. Find a flat surface and put a big piece of newsprint onto it. With your dominant, or stronger hand, crumple up the sheet of paper for about 30 seconds. Do the same thing with your other hand and repeat it with the dominant hand.
Rather than seeing exercise as something you “must” do, try to see it as something you want to do! Love dancing? Then hit the nightclubs! Enjoy a good hike? Then grab your running shoes! Cleaning the house, taking a walk with an old friend, romping around in the backyard with your dog – if it’s something you enjoy doing, you’re much more likely to stick with it.
Many people think that you should work muscle groups that are active in many of the same workouts. This is not the case. You should actually try and work out opposing muscle groups, for instance, triceps and biceps. While one is working out, the other has the chance to rest.
Be sure that you are getting enough protein in your diet. Protein is crucial to the development of your body and the growth of your cells. It is the energy source that keeps you going throughout the day. Protein is available from both animal and plant sources, so it is not difficult to incorporate enough protein in your meals.
If you have a finger that constantly stays jammed, you should try taping that finger to a finger right beside it. The reason is because this makes both fingers stronger when they are together, and you are far less likely to bend the jammed finger at an odd angle, which would jam the finger even more.
Make sure to check your body for any signs of injury or disease. Go to your doctor regularly and have a check up and perform some tests with your doctor. This will ensure that you are keeping nice and healthy and nothing will pop up and surprise you
When using a bench press, it is vital to squeeze on the bar inward. Doing it this way helps to build more muscle in your chest. However, if you are going to do the close-grip version of bench pressing, you should squeeze it outward as this way hits triceps harder.
If you think you’re too out of shape to workout, think again. Try doing a program like the 100 Push Ups or 200 Sit Ups program. They’re designed to cater to each person’s level of fitness. They start out small and gradually, increase the work until you’re able to complete the ultimate goal.
As was discussed in the beginning of this article, as you age your body will go through many changes. It is very important to understand that as we age it becomes harder to maintain your fitness level. Apply the advice from above, and you will live a life with a lot less aches and pains.