Your body should never be taken for granted. The more you take care of it, the better and longer it will work right for you. Work out 3 to 5 times a week, for about 60 minutes. This will keep you energized throughout the day, and help you keep in good physical shape.

A great tip to stay fit is to follow a proven workout program. There are plenty of quality workout programs online and you can also find them in magazines such as Muscle & Fitness and Men’s Fitness. Don’t just blindly follow a workout program. You want to know that a workout program is effective.

Remember during your workouts that your abdominals are muscles, just like any other group in your body. You need to build regular rest days into your fitness program. Even if you swap between cardio and strength training on subsequent days, you still need to give your abs a day off every now and then.

Learning to cook healthy meals is an under-appreciated but important part of any fitness routine. Foods that come from the grocery store prepared or pre-cooked are packed with unhealthy additives like sodium and artificial sweeteners. Learning how to fix tasty, healthy meals using fresh ingredients frees the fitness-minded chef from these nasty artificial ingredients.

Use your workout equipment in an order to see maximum results. The order should be dumbbells first, regular barbells second and machines last. Doing exercises in this order will ensure that you don’t get fatigued too early in your workout, by engaging in the more labor-intensive equipment first. This also works your muscles out, from smaller to larger.

Even the way you hold your head can affect the quality of your workout if you are a runner. For example, most people tend to hunch forward when running uphill. However, you are allowing your airways to open more fully, making breathing much easier, by keeping your head up and focusing your vision at the top of the hill.

Studies have shown that by working out at a moderate rate for about an hour, you can be maintaining a healthier weight and also decreasing your risk of heart disease and other ailments. It can be moderate housework, jogging for 20-30 minutes, or even walking at least 4-5 miles, although moderate exercise is not just going to the gym. Find what works for you.

To keep fit when you go out, park far away from the location you are trying to get to. For example, at the mall, instead of fighting for the closest parking space, park out in the distance. The walking will help you keep your metabolism up and burn calories.

When starting to workout, get a daily regiment going. After you know how to do everything and what muscle group to work out, try improving the speed of your workout. By that time you should be doing your workouts faster, which forces your muscles to work harder and improve strength.

Only use weight belts for large muscle lift workouts. In these special cases, weight belts can actually help you to perform better, by helping to properly distribute weight and give you the center of balance that you need to be stronger. Because of the assistance they provide with balance, weight belts can help reduce injury when weight lifting.

If you are looking to maximize your results, chart all of the exercises that you do on a spreadsheet. This will give you a clear picture of what you have done and the work that you have left to do. Seeing your workouts on paper can help to increase your motivation.

If you desire to improve your level of fitness, music is one of the most important things to add to your regimen. Bring an MP3 player with you and listen to songs that are going to help your level of motivation. This can help stimulate adrenaline, which will increase the length of your workouts.

You have seen how important taking care or your body can be. Make sure you follow all these tips to encourage your body to keep going strong every day. Participate in as much fitness activities as you can, and as long as you are eating well along with the workouts, your body will be very happy and healthy.