You already know it makes sense to put effort into you personal fitness, but the advice in the article below can also help make your effort more effective. Getting the results you can feel and see is a matter of increasing the effectiveness of what you do, every step of the way. To get the most benefit out of your strength training, incorporate stretches into your routine. At least one scientific study suggests that if you pause after training your muscles and spend 20-30 seconds stretching out whatever muscle (or set of muscles) it is you've been working, this will increase your strength. Lifting weights is not all about the number of pounds you can put up. It is not even about how many repetitions you can do. The most important part of any weight training is to focus on the quality of each repetition. When you are putting the weight up, do so slowly, making sure you can feel the muscle contract, then bring it back down in a slow and controlled manner. This will ensure you get the most out of each repetition. A great way to help you get fit is to start doing compound lifts. Compound lifts are lifts such as the bench press, squat, pull-up, and deadlift. These lifts are better than isolation lifts because they use more than once muscle group. Isolation lifts tend to only use one muscle group.
Be realistic with your goals and realize that they don't have to weight related. Make a goal to work two times a week, or to make it to a class once a week. Small goals are much easier to achieve than big ones and they will keep you motivated as you get used to your new routines. Wear shoes that are appropriate for the kind of workout you're doing. The right pair of shoes can make or break your workout and may be the difference between continuing or stopping. Try on different shoes to make sure you have on the most comfortable pair and make sure to replace them when they get worn. If you want to build up muscle faster, make sure you have meat in your daily diet. Studies have shown that if you eat meat in your daily diet, you'll gain more muscle and gain it faster from your workouts. Chicken, turkey, and fish count as meats as well, so you can mix it up a bit.
Increasing the effectiveness of whatever you do for your personal fitness can be as easy as following one or more of the tips in the article above. Your goal of looking and feeling better can be a reality with just these simple tips. Use them to make your workout more effective. |