Best Workout Program Tips

With life being as busy as it is, you want to make sure every workout counts, right? Try following these tips for making your precious exercise hours count.

Vary your workout program. Your body will adapt to whatever exercises you regularly introduce it to, so you'll want to switch things up, confusing the muscles and making them work harder. If you switch up your exercise program, you’ll challenge your muscles in a new way, which will result in more calories burned and more muscle built.

Protect yourself from injury. If you vary your exercise program, you won't wear out your joints or overdevelop one muscle group at the expense of another. You'll want to engage in at least three different types of exercise each week, for example, biking, kickboxing, and playing tennis.

Make sure your exercise program includes both resistance training and aerobic exercise. Ideally, you'll want to lift weights at least twice a week and perform aerobic exercise three to five days a week. Give yourself rests between weight lifting days so your muscles can rebuild, and challenge yourself during cardio workouts by doing intervals.

Build your program gradually. Take it easy at the beginning of any new fitness program. You’ll also put yourself at risk of injury. Begin your program exercising in a way that challenges you but only makes you feel somewhat sore the next day. Push yourself harder as your body adapts to the program so you are always a little sore the next day. If you aren’t sore at all, you’re not pushing hard enough. If you need to take Advil, you’re pushing too hard.

Seek out training and inspiration whenever possible. If you don’t know how to use a machine in the gym, ask the personal trainer for help. Get advise on aerobic exercise and proper form as well; it can save you from injury later. You will learn specifics that can enhance your experience and open up new athletic pursuits.