Part 6: Choosing the right type of exercise for you!
There are many different forms of exercise and it is very difficult to know which are best for an individual. A teenager looking to start gaining muscle will require a much different pattern of exercise than a middle aged person looking to get back into shape. So here are some tips to figure out which exercises are best for you:
1. Diversify your workout between muscle building and cardiovascular workouts.
2. Try to build up every part of your body with muscle building (back, shoulder, legs, chest, arms, everything!)
3. Try to use free weights and real running instead of machines and treadmills (they provide better results and make you less dependent on a gym).
4. Use the right cardio machines if you are going to use them (avoid the treadmills and ellipticals).
5. Work your core with crunches and other ab exercises (they burn a decent amount of calories, increase your flexibility, take minimal time, and help to strengthen your core while giving you the satisfaction of seeing some results relatively quickly)
6. When lifting, switch off between long sets of lighter weights and the shorter sets of heavier weights. The first one tones the muscles while the other makes them larger.
7. When working a body part, don't rely on just one exercise or one machine (example: use both curls and hammers to work the biceps rather than just one of them)
8. Shock your muscles! If you keep doing the same exact exercise with just one bland routine than the pace of improvement will slow. Don't be afraid to add weight on after a couple weeks or to try a new exercise.
9. Work your muscles out and don't just do what feels easy!