I love working out. In addition to elevating my heart rate and toning my arms and legs, exercise lifts my mood and precludes me from devoting time to less noble endeavors. Because I have been working out consistently for quite some time, I have grown aware of various components that can make a fitness program particularly effective. In using the word effective, I reference the concept of an exercise program which generates the type of holistic outcome that helps facilitate weight management and the development of a shapely physique. Here are three components that help produce these outcomes.
1. Cardiovascular Activity.
Although defined broadly, cardiovascular activity is basically physical activity that enables the heart to provide oxygen to the muscles. It is important for several reasons, including the fact that it keeps the heart in good condition. Additionally, cardiovascular activity is effective in burning calories, which is an important fact for individuals who are working out to lose weight. And as Bodybuilder.com explains in noting the benefits of cardiovascular activity, it also speeds up your metabolism, another factor which aids in the process of shedding unwanted pounds.
2. Weight Lifting.
Like cardiovascular activity, weight lifting is a great form of exercise to engage in because of all the benefits it brings the body. As Julie Wilcox states in listing the benefits of weight lifting, the School of Medicine found that weight lifting helps resolve metabolic disorders and regress obesity. Additionally, weight lifting enables the muscles to work together in a more coordinated, efficient capacity. Finally, weight lifting can help prevent diabetes. This is the case because the process of building muscle tissue results in the muscles’ increased demand for glucose. In the act of pulling glucose from your bloodstream, the muscles ensure that your blood sugar levels don’t become dangerously high.
3. Stretching.
Because I usually work out to exercise DVDs led by professional fitness instructors, I’ve grown familiar with a variety of pre and post stretch moves that help me make the most of the time I spend exercising. These stretching moves are advantageous to me for several reasons, including the fact that they decrease my risk of having an activity-based injury. Additionally, stretching improves flexibility, a factor which can improve my performance when doing physical activity. Finally, stretching increases blood flow to the muscles, which helps prepare the body for exercise.
Conclusion
In reviewing each of the aforementioned exercises, you may find yourself feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the different forms of physical activity listed. But don’t be! You don’t have to complete each form of exercise every day. In fact, experts generally don’t recommend that you weight lift each day. Stretching, however, should be an integral component of each workout session you complete. Ultimately, you can scramble your physical activity such that your weekly regimen contains two or three weight lifting exercises and a couple of cardiovascular workouts with stretching taking place during each session. Arranging your workouts this way will help you maximize your physical health and wellness. Good luck!
More Articles From Jocelyn:
Three Signs Your Fitness Program Isn’t Working
