If you want to be healthy, you have to be fit. There is no way around it. Some people are apprehensive about setting up a fitness program, but if you have the right information, it can be easier than you think. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
Listen to fast-paced music when doing anything physical. Studies have shown that music with a quick pace will help to increase your heart rate, therefore helping you burn more calories. It may also put you in a more energetic mood, helping you keep moving longer. Don’t be afraid to “bump some jams” while you vacuum!
Considering a gym membership but can’t afford the monthly dues? Try doing home work-out routines with a friend instead. Work-out videos and routines can be found online at little or no cost to you. By inviting a friend to join you, you can satisfy the need for accountability as well as the social aspect that you would otherwise get from joining a gym.
Setting goals and deadlines for your workout program can serve as a very effective motivator. When you have a goal in mind, you tend to concentrate on getting past difficulties instead of letting them hamper your progress. In addition, it helps prevent you from giving up because you are forced to consider your fitness regimen as a continuing process.
Rotate your workouts of different muscle groups. For example, one day work on the muscles in your arms and shoulders and the next day work on your legs. This will cut down on pain in each area, and also give each muscle group a chance to rest before you work on it again.
If you’re just starting to workout, train then drink a pint of protein shake or milk. According to a new study, beginners that used three sets of six exercises and drank a pint of protein immediately after training to failure, gained 5 lbs of muscle within just 8 weeks.
Working out while enjoying your favorite t.v. show can take your mind off the exercise and increase the number of calories you burn in a day. Something as simple as a few minutes of walking during each commercial break can be very effective. Weight training is easy to do while watching television on the couch. If you try hard, there are always opportunities for you to add some exercise into your day.
When it comes to weightlifting, doing a number of repetitions using lighter weights serves to give you greater muscle mass than doing fewer repetitions using heavier weights. Muscle mass isn’t about lifting the most, but enduring the longest without loss of strength. Many heavy lifters use this specific method.
Choose tightly fitted shoes for climbing and fit them to your bare foot. Climbing is almost as much a matter of feel as it is of strength and endurance. Tightly fitted shoes, shoes fitted so tightly in fact we can’t comfortably walk in them, allow us to climb more effectively.
If you are walking on a treadmill for exercise, try not to hold onto the rails. You can touch them for balance but you should not have to hold on when walking or running. If you do have to hold on, you may want to consider lowering the intensity level as it may be too much.
Working on your fitness doesn’t have to be scary or boring. It can be exciting and fun if you have the right program in place. Use these tips as a way to get moving on your fitness journey. Get fit, get happy, and be healthy at the same time.