Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Trouble Getting In Shape? Try These Fitness Tips.

By Kathryn Grimes


Being fit and being healthy go hand and hand. Sometimes, however, there can be so much conflicting information available, that it's hard to know what to do. Don't give up, even if you are tempted. The following tips can set you on a path toward a fit lifestyle and improved health.

A great way to get fit is to perform reps in the ten to twelve range when you are lifting weights. You might not be able to lift as much weight, but your muscles will become more toned. The amount of reps you do is very important in getting fit.

Cardio training is another vital piece of the total fitness puzzle. Cardiovascular exercise - exercise that elevates the heart rate and respiration - burns fat, improves performance and contributes to overall health and fitness. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that cardio is the most effective kind of exercise for keeping fit - although it should not be anyone's sole form of exercise.

A sports bar, eaten 15 minutes before you work out, is an effective way to charge your energy. While it is not a good idea to eat a heavy meal right before working out, a sports bar can give you the same energy that a full meal would and hits your system much faster.

If your workout program includes separate exercises for individual body and muscle groups, try this trick: After completing each set, take anywhere from twenty seconds to half a minute to stretch and flex the muscle you just targeted. Doing so may actually increase the strength of the muscle as much as 20 percent!

As you begin to recover from a painful muscle injury or strain, gradually increase the intensity and duration of your recovery workout rather than jumping right back into your previous workout routine. After each workout, apply ice to the injured area for half an hour, then repeat the process with added intensity the next day.

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.

Participate in kickboxing if you enjoy martial arts. The way this hybrid martial art form is taught and practiced in fitness training will promote general fitness and agility. It will improve your joint's flexibility, your cardio health and endurance. Besides promoting your health, the kicks and punches you learn can also be used in self defense.

When you are doing crunches, hold your tongue on the roof of your mouth during the duration of the crunches. It may seem silly, but when you do this, your head will align properly during this exercise. Using this method, you will greatly lower the strain on your neck while performing crunches.

Make sure you do some stretches throughout your workout. You should stretch your target muscle groups for about half a minute at a time. People who stretch while they are working out can build strength by 20 percent! Proper stretching is generally agreed to prevent muscle injury before and after a workout. The risks of improper stretching, including stretching in between sets that includes too much intensity in your stretching exercises can increase your risk of injury or soreness. It is very important to consider the different types of stretches and current advice about all stretching so that you can properly perform stretches.

When working out regularly, a great tip is to cut your weekly training in half for one week out of every five or six. Your body needs a little rest occasionally in order to recover properly. In addition, resting will prevent any serious injuries from occurring that could potentially put a halt to your training for months.

Decrease your risk of cancer by adding some exercising time to your schedule. Even adding 30 minutes to your schedule can diminish your cancer risk by around 15%. By exercising even more, you can further diminish your risk for cancer. Moderate exercise is another thing that greatly reduces risks of cancer too.

Try to limit the weight lifting that you do to no more than three times per week. Your body will need time to rest so that it can recuperate and build muscle. Also, spreading out your workouts will prevent injuries, which can really help your chances of reaching your goals.

Hiring a qualified personal trainer has been proven to increase results. A recent study shows that those who had a personal trainer made significant improvements in fat mass, fat-free mass, strength and body mass, compared to those who did the same workouts, but on their own. Personal trainers can help with spotting, motivation and tips, on the exercises you are doing.

Try downloading a mobile app to your smartphone to keep track of your workouts. These handy apps can give you an accurate report of how long you've exercised and how many calories you've burned. You can also set them up to compare yourself to people around the work place to see how you rank.

Fitness is a much discussed topic, with all kinds of differing views and opinions. There are dos and don'ts when it comes to fitness, and important things to consider before embarking on a fitness regimen. If you use the information in this article, eventually the result will be a fitter, happier and healthier you.




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