Getting in shape doesn’t have to mean countless hours of grueling workouts at the gym. The following article will provide tips to get your body fit.
Personal Trainer
If you are just getting into working out, consult a personal trainer for advice. A personal trainer will not only help you to design a workout routine, they will also teach you the correct form for each machine or exercise. Take the intimidation out of the gym by getting an expert introduction the first time you go. Hiring a professional will put you on a path you’ll be motivated to continue on.
Put together a workout routine that you enjoy enough to stick to. If you look forward to your workout, you’ll stay with it for the long haul.
Decide on a fitness plan that matches your needs plus your interests. You will find it easier to maintain a positive attitude if you enjoy your workout routine.
One way to motivate yourself is to clearly outline a goal for your new fitness program. This encourages you to move beyond obstacles instead of feeling defeated by them. Having a goal in place will also work to discourage quitting. It will make you focus more on the ongoing process of fitness, and you will know that you are not done yet.
When you begin working out with weights, always start out with smaller muscles first. Your smaller muscles will get tired before your larger ones, and it also makes a lot of sense to use small dumbbells before using big ones. Also, this process can create a better transition when you lift heavier weights.
Work on strengthening your thighs to better protect your knees. A very common sports-related injury is tearing the ligament found behind the kneecap. Make sure to exercise your quads as well as your hamstrings to prevent this from happening to you. Leg extensions, leg curls, squats, and lunges are all exercises that will work the upper leg muscles.
Build your thigh muscles to protect your knees. A torn ligament in the kneecap is a common sports injury. To keep your knees safe it is crucial to include exercises for both your quads and hamstrings. Exercise your legs with leg curls and leg extensions.
If you tend to backslide on your workout routine, write down a schedule so you don’t forget to get it done. By writing things down, you are committing yourself to a plan and eliminating vague excuses. In the case that you are unwilling or unable to exercise during one of the days you have scheduled, simply move your routine to one of the days you have off.
Test the padding of your workout bench by pressing on the cushion before beginning your workout. Be sure that the wood under the padding is not able to be felt; if it is, move on. Insufficient padding on a machine that you use to work out can cause bruising due to a lack of adequate support.
If you’d like to improve your muscle mass, then you should do less reps, but lift a greater amount of weight. Before you start working out, select a muscle group. Begin with warmups involving lighter, more manageable weights. It is a good idea to do approximately 15-20 reps with the lighter weight. The second set should consist of heavier weights with half the amount of repetitions. Before the third set, add five more pounds and repeat.
Walk your dog when trying to get into a fitness routine. Dogs love to walk, so they won’t get bored with a walk every day. Ease into it. Walk around a full block or two and build from there. This is one of the joys of owning a dog.
Getting fit and healthy can be challenging, but it can also be enjoyable. You can use these suggestions to help you on your journey. Try to think of good fitness as a daily habit. Doing even a little additional exercise when you can fit it in, will help you to reach your goal faster.