You do not have to invest long hours working out at the gym in order to become physically fit. This article contains a variety of fitness tips that will allow you to reach your goals at, and away from the gym.

One powerful motivation tool you can use in your fitness regimen is setting personal goals. This will put you in a frame of mind to put in 110% rather than quitting at the first sign of trouble. Having a goal will discourage you from giving up on your fitness program and help you to think of it as an ongoing project which you have not completed yet.

Simple push-ups can actually tone your triceps. Try to avoid normal pushups though, but target the tricep muscles by merely shifting your hands so that your fingertips touch and your hands are following a 45 degree angle. This will tone triceps faster than any other exercise.

Running outside far surpasses the workout you get on a treadmill. When you can, run outside. When the weather prohibits being outdoors, transition to a treadmill.

Strenghtening your thighs can help prevent sports injuries to the knees. Torn kneecap ligaments are a common sports injury. To maintain knee safety, it is vital to perform exercises that strengthen the quadriceps and hamstrings. Consider performing leg curls or leg extensions.

When you are doing repetitious exercises that require you to count how many you’re doing, start at the number you want to achieve and count backwards. Counting down lets you keep track of how many reps are left, and it can be more motivating than counting the other direction.

Some people do not like how fast they are losing weight, so they choose to exercise far too intensely in hopes of speeding up the process. Such programs can cause bodily damage. Know the facts before you embark on any fitness regimen.

Try counting backwards instead of forwards when you work out. For example, pick the number of repetitions you want to do and start there. This keeps you motivated as you are more easily able to visualize the end.

Are you having problems doing chin-ups? Changing how you perceive them can help. Don’t think about pulling your body upward. Instead, think of moving your elbows downward. Changing the way you think about an exercise can make it seem simpler and you will want to do more chin-ups.

If watching your favorite television program makes you feel like a couch potato, try this tip for guilt-free watching. Use commercial time to perform exercises.

Box Squats

A good workout is kickboxing. Kickboxing is an intense workout, and fun as well. Not only will this type of exercise burn calories, it will help you build strength.

Box squats are a great exercise to use to help build your quadriceps. You will get better results by doing box squats which will help you with regular squats. You’ll need a box or a chair to position behind you. Perform the squat you would normally, but pause while about to sit on the box.

Although the steps to getting healthy and fit can be tough, there are things you can do that will help you enjoy it along the way. You can use these suggestions to help you on your journey. Think about getting fit as something that will require effort each day. With consistency and dedication, you will be well on your way toward reaching your fitness goals.