As our average life span increases, we are becoming aware of the need to preserve our health through wise choices made throughout our lives. What is the point of long life if we are not fit to enjoy it? No matter what your age, considering this article can help you to begin to make choices which will have a positive impact on your health, fitness, and overall well-being for the rest of you life.
Choose the ideal time of day for your body to exercise. A morning person will find it quite easy to fit in their workout routine early in the day, whereas someone who feels at their best later on in the day should wait until the afternoon or evening to exercise. If you work out when your body and mind is feeling in tip-top condition, you will get the best results possible.
Using a treadmill can be the way to go for those who want to improve their aerobic fitness while being able to stay in the same room safely at home and not out jogging or running on a sidewalk somewhere. The treadmill gives one an always available always ready to use option for maintaining fitness.
A great fitness tip is to do sit-ups. Even though many people claim that sit-ups are not effective, they are actually very effective. They give you a bigger range of motion, which strengthens the abs. However, you should never do sit-ups with your feet anchored because you could hurt your lower back.
Before you begin your exercise routine, warm up your brain. It is just as important to get your central nervous system ready for activity, as it is to prepare your muscles. Your central nervous system tells your muscles when to contract and by doing this you will get more efficient workout.
Studies have shown that by working out at a moderate rate for about an hour, you can be maintaining a healthier weight and also decreasing your risk of heart disease and other ailments. Moderate exercise is not just going to the gym, but it can be moderate housework, jogging for 20-30 minutes, or even walking at least 4-5 miles. Find what works for you.
If exercising just isn’t for you – whether you’re too busy or it aggravates you – still try to find the time to do twenty minutes of either aerobic exercise or weight lifting two times every week. Even this little bit of exercise, has been shown to increase your health.
One of the main reasons people fail to continue exercise programs is boredom. There is nothing as boring as walking or jogging on the same treadmill, day after day. The key for many people is variety of exercise. For example, a few weeks of cycling could be followed by a week of running, followed by a week of playing tennis.
Many people think they are too busy to work out. This does not have to be true. Even if you take 10 minutes out of your day to exercise, you have been productive. It is important to find time to exercise as it is good for your heart, muscles, and overall health.
Go to the head of the class. In your favorite fitness class, don’t be timid – choose a spot right in the front. It will make you work harder knowing that everyone behind you is watching you and seeing yourself working hard in the mirror will boost your sense of accomplishment.
For people who are avid runners, try sleeping on your stomach with your feet hanging off the bottom of the bed. By sleeping this way, your muscles will not be as tight in the morning and you will not have to spend as much time stretching out the leg muscles.
When working out, try to work opposing muscle groups back to back. As you are working one muscle, the other one is able to rest. This prevents your muscles from getting fatigued as quickly. This also saves a significant amount of times between sets. For example, work on your triceps, immediately followed by biceps.
It is still possible to keep up with your fitness when you are on vacation or a business trip. By not exercising while away, you can mess your whole workout routine. While in your hotel room, do a few sets of crunches, do some push ups and walk to your destination when possible.
A great way to stay motivated to continue your fitness plan is to set goals. By setting goals that are achievable, you will increase your self esteem and pride in your fitness activities. When you start to see achievements, it will encourage you to keep going and possibly increase your goals. Before you know it you’ll be running that 5K or losing that 10 pounds that you’ve always wanted to lose. Goal setting is the key to staying motivated to keep your fitness plan going.
Find some local places that will offer you a chance to use to their machines. Your company may have a personal gym, or it may offer discounted gym memberships to local clubs. If your company does not offer this, you should still be aware of the locations of local gyms. You will go to the gym more often if it is nearby.
To meet your fitness goals, quality is more important than quantity. This means, if you are using poor form in order to do twice as many repetitions, you are wasting your time and energy. It is better to either use a lower weight or do fewer reps in order to maintain proper form.
Remember, there is no need to hurry. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Pick a suggestion and give yourself a week or even a month to incorporate it as a habit. Then add another. Before you know it, these small changes will add up and you will be living a healthier, more productive life. Make the most of it!
