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Create workouts that make a difference
by Lisa Hane
Flex Appeal
Whether you are a beginner or have hit a workout plateau these three ground rules can help you get the results that you want.
1. Know Your Muscles:
Learn basic anatomy. Picture the muscle. Before you do an exercise, locate and activate the muscle. When you perform the exercise, "put your mind into the muscle." When you complete the exercise, activate the muscle again for a ten-second count. Research proves that people who visualize produce faster results. So, next time you are doing resistance training, think about the muscle you are trying to work rather than just going through the movement.
2. Sweat Is Your Friend:
Use resistance training to permanently change your metabolism and your body shape, but use cardio to burn fat. Cardio means sweat! Get a heart rate monitor. You should be working at 80% of your heart rate capacity for a minimum of thirty minutes at least three times a week. Challenge yourself in this area. Change up the type of cardiovascular activity that you are doing. Add intervals, hills, or a completely different exercise to maximize results in this area.
3. Put Your Mouth Where Your Muscle Is:
Spend some time learning about nutrition. Learn the right way to feed your body. Keeping a food journal can really help get you on the right path. Journaling can help you build an understanding of how many calories you consume, how many you want to consume, and where they should come from. This will be different for each individual. Food is fuel. The right fuel will allow you to power through those tough workouts, and assist in muscle recovery afterwards. The right nutrition can often be the key to breaking fitness plateaus.
Follow these guidelines to create a workout.
flexappealstpaul.com
1946 Saint Clair Avenue
St Paul, MN 55105-1647
(651) 698-3442 | 