A Guide to Total Body Fitness

 

Now is the perfect time to begin sculpting a hotter, fitter, happier you. Body fitness is not one size fits all. Whether you prefer Tai Chi in the park or the intensity of a boot camp style workout, finding what works for you is the most important element. But getting fit doesn’t have to be grueling. With just a few “best practices” you can get the look you want without the drudgery.

Below are my top ten tips to help you take control of your health even if you aren’t a body fitness enthusiast.

2.     Muscles are sexy…especially on women. I could spend hours telling you about all of the benefits of building muscles. Not only does moderate weight training reduce your risk of injury, osteoporosis, and heart disease it’s great for your curves. Whether you do a body sculpting yoga class, using your own body’s weight to build muscle, or hit the weight room three times a week for a twenty-minute session, weight lifting will help you carve out and define the curves you want.

3.     Variety! Chances are if you don’t see fitness results you probably haven’t switched things up for a while. I would recommend changing routines every two weeks. Sometimes that means changing activities, and other times that means increasing the intensity. Maybe this week you pair spin class with a yoga class. Maybe next week it’s kickboxing. Increasing the intensity of your current routine is another way to push through a plateau. So, switch it up!

4.     Push, swing, and hang! Shapely arms and a tight, firm behind are easier to achieve than you think. Don’t worry if you can’t do a push-up. Even modified push-ups will get results. Can’t manage even a single pull-up? Just hanging from the bar for as long as you can help improve your upper body strength and definition. One of the best exercises for the whole body is the standard kettlebell swing. To firm up your derriere, squat deep and thrust your hips forward, concentrating on activating your glutes as you power upwards.

5.     Goals are important! Long-term goals are important, but short-term goals are even more important. Breaking your long-term goals down into small, achievable benchmarks is the best way to avoid being overwhelmed and quit. One great way to do this is to measure your success by more than just the numbers on the scale. Maybe you want to look better in your jeans or get in the habit of being in bed by 10 pm. Focus on improving every day rather than drastic changes. Pace yourself. Take it one day at a time. Attaching your goals to overarching goals, deadlines and rewarding your victories are all important mental strategies to make your bid for fitness a success.

Remember that making drastic changes to your diet is a recipe for disaster. Dramatically cutting your caloric intake will give short-term success but an extreme change can damage your metabolism and creates an unsustainable relationship with food. It’s best to cut your daily intake by no more than 500 calories a day.

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Author Bio: Jane Grates