Everyone desires to have a beach body, but not many people are dedicated enough to achieve it. There is no miracle pill or quick fix when it comes to getting fit. The only tried and true method to get fit is to be persistent, which this article will help you with.
Stretch after you workout. Most people know to warm-up before they start their workout. Less know that you need to stretch afterwards as well. Resist the urge to leave the gym or just sit down and relax once you’re finished. Taking the time to stretch will keep you limber and maximize the effect of your workout.
Marathons used to be for serious runners only, but now they have become a popular goal for casual runners as well. Many people nowadays come to a point in their lives where they feel they want the challenge of finishing a marathon. Luckily there are many good training programs now, to help casual runners prepare for more the 26.2 mile trek.
To improve the effectiveness of your stretches, adjust the amount of time you hold your stretches to account for your age. Why? As you age, your muscles lose pliability, so you need to spend more time stretching them. The recommended duration for people under 40 years old is 30 seconds, while people over 40 years old should hold stretches for twice as long.
In order to maximize your running fitness, be sure to give yourself a break every six weeks or so. This will allow your body to recover and help to prevent injury. During this break week, it is advisable to not rest completely, but to cut the workload in half.
In order to achieve the best results from your fitness workout, stay hydrated. If you sweat out too much of your body weight, it creates stress on your cardiovascular system, which can negatively affect your performance. Approximately 2 hours before your workout, drink at least 16 oz (two cups) of fluids. While exercising, drink about 10 oz every 20 minutes: more if it is a high intensity workout. Upon finishing your workout, drink another 16 oz. This may seem like a lot, but it is surprising how dehydrated you can become in a very short time.
Weight training is important to anyone trying to keep or become physically fit. Even if you’re only trying to improve your cardiovascular performance, muscle will make all exercise easier. Also, the body burns calories at a faster pace when there is an abundance of muscle. Every workout routine should include some muscle training.
Exercising with your dog can be a great motivator. Having to take your dog out can increase the frequency of your workouts as well as your enjoyment. Some health clubs even offer classes or activities that can be done with your pet, such as “doggy yoga”!
As long as you remind yourself of the information in this article, you should be able to achieve your beach body, and not fall into the common pitfalls of dieting. Patience really is the key when you’re trying to get fit, and once you know that, you’ll be well on your way to success.