Becoming more physically fit does not necessarily require you to live at the gym. This article will show you the different options that are available to you, besides the gym, to get fit.

If you haven’t met your goals for fitness yet, try something new. Rather, buy something new: a piece of workout clothing might give you a boost of enthusiasm. No matter what the article of clothing is, you will be excited for others to see it, thus, giving you motivation to workout.

Mix up workout routines with plenty of different exercises. Doing so will make your fitness plan less boring, helping to maintain your motivation to continue your workouts on a daily basis. This will also prevent your muscles from getting stiff from the same, repetitive exercises.

Maintaining strong leg muscles will protect your knees from injury. Torn ligaments behind your kneecap are a sports injury that is quite common. Work on your hamstrings and quads to protect your knees. Leg curls and extensions are great for this.

Maintain a record of everything you do each day. Everything from the exercises you complete, to the foods you eat, need to be written down. Even record the day’s weather. This way, you can reflect on highs, lows and obstacles you encounter. If you choose not to exercise for the day, explain your reasons in your journal.

Although you may prefer running on a treadmill, you can get better exercise by running outside. The weather during winter months gives a good reason why people prefer treadmills, however, it is better for you to run on pavement.

Your workouts will be even more effective if you learn to control your breathing. Try forcefully exhaling when your shoulders peak when doing crunches and situps. When you exhale deeply, it forces your abs to contract resulting in a better workout.

Fitness Program

Most people think of fitness as a physical pursuit, but it can have even farther-reaching benefits. Your emotional health and outlook on life can also benefit from a fitness program. Workouts release feel-good hormones known as endorphins, which can lead to euphoric feelings. Working out also enhances your self-image and your confidence. A good fitness program allows you to improve both your health and your happiness.

It’s a good idea to alternate some sit-ups into your workout along with your crunches. Sit-ups have been getting a bad reputation of late. Be careful not to anchor your feet when doing any kinds of sit-ups, though. These sit-ups are not the best for the health of your back.

Lifting weights will help you run. Many runners don’t even look to weights as an accompaniment to their sport, but they’d be wise to do so. Studies have shown runners who use weights can run further and faster, with less fatigue, than runners who do not lift weights.

Yard work is a way to multi-task while getting a workout. Performing yard work motivates you to get outside and move around. It’s a match made in heaven. You can get some needed activity by getting out and working on your outside lawn space weekly. The time will go quickly, your yard will look great and so will you!

Leg Extensions

Performing leg extensions will strengthen your quadriceps. Leg extensions are fairly easy and almost every gym will have at least one leg extension machine. This exercise is pretty simple. As the name suggests, you just extend your legs forward.

Get fit the retro way by strapping on a pair of rollerblades. While the sport may not enjoy the popularity it did two decades ago, it is still an effective way of burning calories. Rollerblades are still available at many stores.

A simple but very handy fitness tip is to press your tongue to the top of your mouth while doing situps or crunches. This engages your neck muscles and keeps them aligned properly while you are exercising your abs. This will help you avoid overworking your muscles and potentially injuring them.

Getting into shape can be very hard work, but it can be a lot of fun, too. Use some of the tips you read about in this article by adding them to your program. Look at fitness as a day to day activity. A little more exercise, and a little more often, will see you making big strides towards your goals.