Working out is hard. There’s a reason why only a select few people in the world are consistent with their fitness lifestyle.
But they understand that being consistent brings in the most results that are worth it. Why? Because fitness is a lifestyle, not some three-month rule book you follow and throw out after you finally got that six pack you wanted.
Here are fitness tips to stay on that path and help soften the pavement along the way.
1. Bring Variety to Your Workouts
Pushups, pull-ups, crunches, and squats are some of the few basic body-weight exercises. If you could only do these for the rest of your fitness career what do you think would happen?
You’d get bored and stop working out.
You have to think of the bigger picture and try new things. Instead of only doing push-ups, try it with a backpack filled with your old college textbooks. Instead of running on a treadmill, try jump roping, plyometrics or HIIT training.
Alternatives to your exercises will keep things fresh to help maintain a consistent fitness lifestyle.
2. Have Workout Partners or Trainers
The consistent demands of rigorous workouts can rob even the most energetic person of motivation if there isn’t another person to come alongside with a little nudge.
That is why its a good idea over the long haul to have a workout partner to fuel motivation and accountability in helping you to reach your fitness goals. Whether you work out at a gym around other fitness-minded people, get a friend or personal trainer involved with you on your fitness journey.
3. Get Motivated
As cliche as this sounds, motivation is an amazing tool that can help bring out the better you. It helps you to start forming habits that turn into discipline. With that said, let’s assume we’re starting from square one.
Motivation in forms such as the vision board, progress pictures, personal trainers, websites, or friends and family can help you take action. These small doses of motivation will kickstart your gears into a “fitness-mode” that’ll bring confidence.
There will be times when you’re unmotivated, lazy, stressed, and not wanting to workout. This is normal. Finding sparks of motivation will help turn around these faltering moments and help guide you back along the path to success.
4. Keep Your Body Moving
Nothing is as lethal as a sedentary lifestyle. When it comes to body maintenance, the old adage “use it or lose it” is a true statement.
Pick an activity, like walking, hiking, bicycling, jogging, or any combination of these activities, and engage in it for 20 to 30 minutes every day.
While that may not seem like a huge amount of time; it will allow you to create a habit of regular body movement. Over time, you can work to increase the daily time you devote to activity.
To start, get yourself moving! Your body will thank you.
5. Build Physical Endurance, Strength, and Flexibility
There is a multitude of workout plans on the market today, and it is important to select one that encompasses all the pillars of good health. Beginning and ending your workouts with a few basic stretching exercises is essential. You’ll avoid muscle pulls and strains, and will increase your range of motion.
In terms of workout routine; combining regular weight training with body weight exercises such as push-ups, dips, and pull-ups is a great fitness strategy. Also, try alternating between lightweight/high repetition workouts, and heavyweight/lower repetition strength training workouts.
This level of variety in your training keeps you from getting into a routine rut. You will find yourself gaining a combination of strength and greater endurance for daily life activities.
6. Burn Fat from your Lower Abs
The Doorway System is ideal for developing those pesky lower abs. The key to working the lower abs is to raise your legs and knees up since that creates the most contraction. This is where the Doorway System comes in handy.
One of the best exercises for well-developed lower abs is the vertical leg raise. This exercises, while working your entire core, will help contract the lower abs. There are other variations too, an easier one would be to raise your knees instead of your legs.
If you’re looking for a challenge, then try some of the Max Fitness exercises. These exercises will toast your core. For an added burn, when raising your legs up slowly lower them down.
7. Fuel Your Body With The Highest Quality Calories
When it comes to diet, use a basic, common-sense approach. Limit nutrition-empty calories from sugar-laden sweets and refined white flour-based bread and pasta.
The same goes for those sugary soft drinks, and anything more than an occasional alcoholic beverage. Fuel your body with plenty of protein-rich lean meats such as fish, chicken, turkey, or high-quality beef.
Other great sources of protein include eggs, cheddar cheese, and Greek yogurt. Include lots of vegetables in your diet, especially those of the green leafy variety. Make sure your carbohydrate intake consists of complex carbs such as oatmeal.
And when you want a snack, reach for a piece of fruit or some nuts to ease hunger and provide extra energy. Finally, a good daily green superfood drink or whey protein shake with almond milk can round out your daily dietary needs. Remember, your body needs calories for fuel.
Don’t starve yourself by avoiding food. Make sure you are getting the right kind of calorie intake.
Fitness Tips
So you have made the decision to embrace a lifestyle of health and fitness. Congratulations! Making this important choice to begin the journey is one you will never regret. It is the first step to enjoying the full benefits of vibrant health and renewed energy.
As with any journey, there will be obstacles and challenges along the way. Like the foundation of a building; these fitness tips are essentially hidden underpinnings of a solid and stable fitness superstructure. For more health and fitness tips to help you lead a healthier life, check out our blog!
