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By Deb Taylor


Many people don't realize just how important fitness is to their life. Fitness is more than just losing weight; it's committing to being the healthiest and happiest you that you can be. Here are some great ways to get fit and to propel you toward optimum levels of personal fitness.

Don't be afraid to ask for help at the gym. If you don't know how to use a machine, go ahead and ask. Understanding how to utilize both the aerobic and strength building machines will give you the confidence to actually use them. The more comfortable you are, the more likely you are to keep up your workouts.

A great way to get fit is to invest in a bike. Riding a bike is a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors. You can also burn a fair amount of calories. You can even ride your bike to take care of your errands.

A great way to get fit, is to perform your cardio first thing in the morning, before breakfast. Performing cardio this way, taps right into your fat stores because you haven't had anything to eat. This is one of the most effective ways to lose fat through cardio.

Some older adults will become less mobile because of their loss of balance when walking. Using a walking cane or a walker will help improve balance and lessen the chance from falling. However, studies have shown that using a pole instead of a cane or walker is better for the older adult. A pole will increase the strength of the upper-body and help the cardiovascular system as well as simultaneously improve their balance while walking.

To relieve pain from arthritis, do finger exercises. Finger exercises work the small muscles in your fingers and hand to relieve stiffness and pain. Although it may seem silly, doing finger exercises is an important part of any fitness workout plan if you are an elderly or young person with arthritis.

Strengthen your back to help end back pain. Every time you do a set of exercises that focus on your abdominal exercises, do a set of exercises that focus on your lower back. Working out only your abdominal muscles can cause poor posture and pain in the lower back.

While indoor treadmills provide great exercise, running in the outdoors is far more strenuous. Treadmills offer convenience, especially when it gets too cold outside. Running on the sidewalk, however, is more effective.

You will not lose fat by only working out your abdominal muscles. Studies have shown that it takes around 250,000 crunches to burn just one pound of fat. That is the equivalent of you doing 100 crunches everyday for 7 years straight. Instead of doing all that work, have a variety of areas targeted in your workout and you will see more instantaneous results.

If reaching your fitness goal is hindered by your excess weight or joint problems, try water aerobics exercises. In this case you use the swimming pool as your gym. As a result you reduce your body fat, burn extra calories and build lean muscles without putting extra pressure on your joints.

One great way to improve your fitness is to periodically do an exercise session, or a series of sessions, in which you purposefully work to exceed your usual limits or capacity by doing a high intensity or volume of exercise. If this period of exercise is followed by a period of rest, it can result in great fitness gains.

Running, while beneficial, can harm your body over time. To prevent damages to your body you should cut down on the amount that you run every once in a while. One week out of every six, only run half of what you normally do. Running only half of what your body is used to will give your body the chance to recover from your previous running routines and help you avoid permanent damage.

Getting fit takes some time; it doesn't happen overnight. But working out a fitness routine and committing to your own success can help. Use these tips to help you do that and decide to work on your fitness no matter what. Be healthy by being fit and be happier as well.




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