MuscleWiki is a community built upon the principle that fitness should be simple. We believe that everyone can become fit and healthy. That starts with you.
The problem is that getting into shape isn’t easy. It requires commitment, discipline, and most of all a change in mindset.
Fitness shouldn’t be a daunting or frustrating experience. It should be rewarding. That’s why we created this site: to help you attain your fitness goals with as little struggle as possible.
Why Fitness Should Be Simple
Many people get into fitness because of a specific goal. Maybe you want to lose weight, build muscle, increase strength, or improve your metabolism. You may even have a more aspirational goal like competing in a bodybuilding or powerlifting contest.
Whatever your reason for getting into shape, it’s essential to have a specific end point in mind. Without a specific end point, it’s nearly impossible to know when you’ve succeeded. Sure, you might lose a few pounds, build a few muscles, or increase your strength a little.
But at what cost? Most people who are trying to lose weight end up gaining it back just as fast. And those who are trying to build muscle end up with little to show for it. But if you know exactly what you want, it’s easier to stay focused and stay motivated.
Get more from your workouts
There’s a certain magic that happens when you step onto the mat or the field and train. You put yourself into a vulnerable position and limit your ability to be as productive as you could be.
You become your own toughest critic and have to overcome the resistance of your body. Training is a perfect time to focus on your self-improvement. It’s a time to remind yourself that you’re worthy of more.
Every workout is an opportunity to identify weak areas of your body and add new dimensions to your fitness. You’ll be more capable of coping with the challenges that lie ahead.
Increase strength and muscle mass
Although fitness is important, it’s not the same as strength training. Strength training should be the focus of your program. This will allow you to handle heavier weights and work your muscles to the point where they’re screaming for mercy. But this doesn’t happen overnight. For the first few weeks, your muscles will be sore and fatigued.
You’ll probably even feel like you can’t move. Don’t try to rush it. Take it easy. Get your nutrition into good shape. Don’t stress yourself out. Consistency is key. That’s the best way to maximize gains. You can’t just focus on one workout and expect results.
It takes a combination of consistently challenging yourself and allowing your body to rest and heal. Don’t be afraid to take a week off here and there. It’s important to give your muscles the rest they need to get stronger.
Take advantage of cardio
Cardio is probably the most underrated part of any fitness program. It will most likely be the first thing to go if you’re trying to get into shape. Either you start jogging on the spot every morning or you decide to become a member of the “cardio isn’t important” club. But cardio is vitally important. It’s like the hydrogen to your iron.
Without it, you’ll end up with nothing. You need to do cardio to speed up your metabolism and to burn the excess fat that’s accumulated in your body. You can do this by running, using a treadmill, using an elliptical machine, using an exercise bike, using a rowing machine, using an indoor or outdoor track, using a stair climber, using a recumbent bike, using a cross trainer, using a rowing machine, using an elliptical machine.
By doing this, you’ll see results in a very short period of time. In order for cardio to be effective you need to do something that causes the heart to work harder than the rest of the muscles in your body. For example, running at a steady pace will cause the heart to beat harder but it will not cause the rest of your body to work any harder than when you’re sitting down.
You may want to try different ways of doing cardio in order to get the most out of it. By running on grass, you increase the amount of oxygen available to your muscles and this will cause them to burn calories more efficiently. Running on a track, while also increasing the amount of oxygen in your muscles, helps to regulate your heart rate and tone your muscles in a smoother manner.
Build a better body
Being fit doesn’t just mean having a great physique. It means having a body that allows you to function at your best. It means having an ideal hormonal balance so that you’re focused and energetic. It means having the strength to deal with the challenges that you’ll face in life. You’re not just being fit. You’re building a better body.
You can do this by doing high intensity interval training. HIIT is a form of cardio that’s focused on short bursts of intense effort and short breaks of rest. This will increase your metabolism, burn more calories, and help you lose weight. The best thing about HIIT is that it can be done with almost any type of cardio.
You don’t have to be on a treadmill or running on a track. You can use a rowing machine, elliptical machine, dumbbells, jump rope, anything that gets you up to a high intensity. You can also do HIIT using gymnastics or calisthenics. To do this, find an exercise that uses a combination of both upper and lower body movements, such as pull-ups, push-ups, squats, lunges, crunches, and so on.
By doing this you’ll be working your cardiovascular system while strengthening your muscles and increasing your metabolism.
Conclusion
Fitness doesn’t need to be a struggle. It can be rewarding. It can also be simple. And most importantly it can be fun. Although it takes discipline and commitment, it’s also worth the effort. Start by getting into shape and you’ll soon realize how rewarding fitness can be.
