Many people find staying in shape to be a daunting task. The mere thought of working out 1 hour a day 7 days a week feels like too much commitment. This article will provide you with several easy ways to get in shape. You will find that these simple exercises do not feel like much work at all, and you will feel healthier in no time.

To get the most benefit out of your strength training, incorporate stretches into your routine. At least one scientific study suggests that if you pause after training your muscles and spend 20-30 seconds stretching out whatever muscle (or set of muscles) it is you’ve been working, this will increase your strength.

If you employ a variety of techniques and workout elements, you can improve your results. For instance, instead of doing all your workouts on your treadmill, take a walk around your neighborhood. The difference in intensity and muscle use that is needed to run uphill outdoors can yield different results than similar exercise on the indoor track. Varying the exercises you do prevents the body from acclimatizing itself to one specific exercises, which can reduce its effectiveness.

Have a timer handy when doing exercises at home. When using an exercise ball it is helpful to time each exercise so you know how long you are in each position. Holding each position for a specified length of time helps you build muscles and reach your fitness goals.

When you are concentrating your fitness goals onto your abs, remember they need to rest. You will not do them any favors with daily workouts. You should limit your ab training to three days a week. You should never do more than four days of ab training in a week.

Each time you lift weights, flex your glutes. This will exercise your butt and is a safer way of working out in general. It will help take the load off your spine.

You can build up your physical strength through the use of lighter weights. Your muscles will have just as much force as when you lift heavier weights, except you will be going much slower. These are especially great for bench-presses. Go with about 40-60% of what you usually lift and do 8 sets of 12 repetitions pushing the weight up quickly. Have a 30 second rest period between sets.

You can improve your jumping height by doing a simple jumping exercise. Stand on an 8 inch high step and step off backward using both of your feet. When your toes hit the ground, jump forward back onto the step. The key is to press off as quickly as possible as soon as your toes hit the ground. Do at least three to five sets of 10-20 of these to improve the speed and height of your vertical jump.

In summary, losing weight and staying healthy does not have to feel like a chore. By taking these small steps and just a few minutes out of each day, you will see awesome results. You will be amazed at how healthy you will feel. Your mind and body will thank you.