Many people don’t realize just how important fitness is to their life. Fitness is more than just losing weight; it’s committing to being the healthiest and happiest you that you can be. Here are some great ways to get fit and to propel you toward optimum levels of personal fitness.
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!
If you don’t already have a personal trainer, consider paying for just a few sessions. Often times you don’t need to pay for ongoing training, just a couple sessions to get you on the right track, and find out what kind of exercises you should be doing to meet your fitness goals as well as learning proper techniques for executing them.
A great way to get fit is to invest in a bike. Riding a bike is a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors. You can also burn a fair amount of calories. You can even ride your bike to take care of your errands.
It’s a great idea to jot down a few notes about your day’s exercise in a fitness journal. Keep track of all the workouts you do. Do not forget any additional exercise that you perform. Get a pedometer to record the number of steps you walked during the day. This helps you track progress.
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.
If you’re cycling, whether one a stationary bike or a real one, try to keep your speed between about 80 RPM and 110 RPM. You’ll be able to go much longer before you get tired and you won’t put as much strain on your knees. You can figure out your RPMs by counting the number of times your right leg comes to the top of the pedal in ten seconds and then multiply that by 6.
Work your hamstrings in order to make your sprint faster. Your hamstring muscles help your speed and are used to push off. Leg curl is a great exercise to get strong hamstrings, but instead of releasing this exercise quickly, release slowly which will work your hamstrings more. Strong hamstrings equal a faster sprint.
Being fidgety is not always a bad thing. Studies have proven that people who fidget and move around tend to be skinnier then those who are able to sit still for long periods of time. This is because movement and fidgeting will burn calories, and help keep off the unwanted pounds.
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.
A great workout tip is to always purchase workout clothes in black, white or gray. This is because these colors go with everything else in your closet. Therefore, you do not have to waste time searching for clothing that matches. Instead, you can spend more time working out, which is the whole purpose of workout clothes.
A great fitness tip is to make sure you perform dead-lifts with correct form. To correctly perform dead-lifts you’ll want to keep the bar as close to your body as you can. If you incorrectly perform dead-lifts you can end up with a serious injury which can include a hernia.
If basketball is your game and you are looking to increase your ball handling skills, then practice your dribbling while wearing canvas work gloves. It’s been shown that the glove’s thickness actually helps increase the sensitivity of the tips of your fingers. So when you do finally take off those gloves, you will have better control of the ball!
To recover faster from heavy exercise, do a light work out the next day, that covers the same muscle group. On this second day, concentrate on very low weights, which are about twenty percent of your lifting capacity and two quick sets of twenty-five repetitions. Your muscles will heal faster because they will receive more blood and nutrients flowing through them.
Put it in reverse. If you typically work out on a treadmill or elliptical machine, try reversing your stride to enhance your muscles. Because your body is not accustomed to the reverse motion, it works different muscles and causes you to work harder. Gradually add a few minutes of reverse motion into each workout to really feel the burn and see results.
Strength training is important when trying to help joint pain. Because the main reason for joint pain is weakness or lack of flexibility, working out can help improve your joint pain. Working out also helps to strengthen your joints. It is important that you do not stop working out just because the pain has subsided.
Getting fit takes some time; it doesn’t happen overnight. But working out a fitness routine and committing to your own success can help. Use these tips to help you do that and decide to work on your fitness no matter what. Be healthy by being fit and be happier as well.
