Overall fitness isn’t just about cardio. Although cardio is a major component of weight loss and heart health, it is important to incorporate strength training into your fitness regimen. Strength training builds muscle mass and helps you burn more calories post-workout. Follow these strength-training tips to amp up your workout and get a complete workout.
If you want to get in shape, you will want to exercise on a regular basis. Instead of just exercising every once in a while, set up a regular time for you to exercise and do it every day or every other day until it becomes a habit. The more you exercise the better shape your body will be in and the better you’ll feel.
Consult with a professional before attempting a new exercise with weights or machine. Doing an exercise or using a machine improperly can negate any benefits you might get from it. Worse than that, you can sometimes even injure yourself, possibly causing long-term problems.
When you’re working through a fitness regimen, remember that you should always warm up. If you are under the age of forty, hold your stretches for thirty seconds. If you are over the age of forty, your stretches should be held for sixty seconds. Muscles become less limber as you age, so it is wise to adjust your workout to keep on top of these changes.
When working out, use this order: dumbbells first, then barbells, then machines. This is because your small stabilizing muscles tire more quickly than your large muscles. Dumbbells and barbells require more use of these smaller stabilizing muscles, you should use them first and move onto machines, which rely more on your larger muscles instead.
Rather than seeing exercise as something you “must” do, try to see it as something you want to do! Love dancing? Then hit the nightclubs! Enjoy a good hike? Then grab your running shoes! Cleaning the house, taking a walk with an old friend, romping around in the backyard with your dog – if it’s something you enjoy doing, you’re much more likely to stick with it.
When doing squats, don’t rest the bar on your neck. Resting it on your neck will make the entire weight press on your spine which will make muscle and spinal injuries more possible. Hold the bar as low as possible on your shoulders, this will help save your neck.
When pursuing your fitness goals, a great tip is to never coddle a weak area. If you hate doing a particular workout, you need to start doing it. If you have weak spots in your body, they can likely lead to injury down the road if you do not start working on them.
Many people think that working their abs out daily is a good thing. This is not what you should be doing. Abdominals, like other groups, require regular rest. You should try to give 2 to 3 days rest between your ab workouts.
If you are trying to work on how fast you can swim, develop the flexibility in your ankle. Your ankles will act as propeller or flippers to propel you forward. If you can build up the strength in your ankles, you will be able to move your feet faster and in a better motion.
If you injure one of your body parts, you should not stop working it out, but instead continue to work it out. For example, if you injure your right leg, you should continue to work out that leg because some of the strength will actually be transferred to the leg not working out.
If you want to improve your tennis game, you must train your eyes to focus quicker. When you are able to change your focus on a continual basis, you will be able to hit more winners. When you are riding in a vehicle, try focusing on an object in the distance. Then, immediately shift your focus to a closer object. Do this repeatedly, and you will begin to notice an improvement in your tennis game.
Do not be a single-machine user. Exercising in many different forms is the best way to do strength training, even if you want to focus on one part of your body. Overall strength and health is more important than getting bigger biceps, so try your best to be as diverse as possible.
Plan ahead for situations that could derail your fitness plans. At a time when you are feeling enthusiastic and clear-headed, establish a plan of action for all the possible reasons that you may skip a workout. For example, if you have to work late, you will skip the gym, but instead do short but intense workout at home. By planning in advance, you don’t have to come up with a solution when you are stressed.
Obviously, there are many options when it comes to working strength moves into your fitness routine. Keep doing your cardio, but additionally, choose any number of the tips mentioned to keep your muscles strong and prevent injury. Not only will you increase your calorie burn, but you’ll have awesome muscle definition to boot.
