Many people find that boosting their fitness levels is difficult to do. But you can make serious fitness improvements much more easily than you think. If you are ready to commit yourself to a fitness program, read this article and start working on reaching the next level of your fitness program.

When most people think of fitness, they think of a gym packed with elaborate weight-lifting equipment. Actually, it is only necessary to do six simple exercises to keep all the muscles in shape. Those exercises are leg raises, push-ups, squats, bridges, pull-ups and handstand push-ups.

Start a garden. Many people do not understand that it is a considerable amount of work to start a garden. You will need to weed, dig, turn over sod, and your body will be moving around a lot! You can garden to help you burn a few extra calories a week, or you can think of other simple tasks to complete around your home.

Join an exercise and fitness club to help stay motivated. You will be more motivated because the money is already spent. Of course, this is something you should do primarily if you have issues committing to a specific location.

Pay several months in advance when you join a gym or fitness club. The guilt you will feel by not using the club will hopefully get you to go more often than you normally would. You should only do this as a last ditch effort.

Setting goals for your fitness level is a wonderful motivation. Trying to make a goal helps you get past obstacles, rather than becoming fixated on them. Having a goal is also a great way to keep you motivated and follow through on what it is you wish to accomplish.

By adding variety to your workouts, your body will benefit. Someone who usually uses an indoor exercise bike can bike around on the streets in their neighborhood. Walking on a sidewalk is different than walking on a treadmill. Variety helps with results.

Don’t lift weights for more than one hour. Besides releasing cortisol, if you are lifting for an hour, your muscles will start to waste. So keep those weight workouts less than 60 minutes.

Always keep some spice in your exercises and throw in a few new workouts whenever you come across a good idea. This can help you avoid routines and help you retain motivation for the next workout. What’s more, doing the same exercises over and over again gets you muscles used to the workout, which reduces its effectiveness.

Crunches alone won’t help you build abs. You should not waste your time with crunches if you are trying to lose weight, it takes a quarter million of them to lose a pound! Therefore, you are not maximizing your time if you are strictly doing crunches. Use other exercises to get the best results on your abs.

While nothing comes easily, know that working hard will certainly pay off in the end. Beyond simply becoming physically fit, you will also improve on your mind and overall health. If you stay fit, you will lead a better life and be able to do more in it.

Do you want to get the most out of your work out. Stretching can increase your strength by as much as 20%. During your routine, stretch the muscle you are working on for about 20 to 30 seconds between each set. Simple stretches can really maximize the benefits of your workout.