Whether you are trying to jump-start your fitness routine or just trying to keep it on track, adding a few fresh ideas to you fitness bag of tricks can be very effective. Take a look at the following tips to find some advice that might be just what you need to get you closer to your goal.

If you are going to be doing serious weight training, it is crucial to have a spotter on hand. As you are lifting, your body is going to get tired. Lifting without a spotter leaves you open to the danger of being unable to lift your weights off of your chest, or even more dangerously, having them fall down on you if your arms give out.

Set goals. Having something you’re working toward makes the exercise worthwhile. Whether you want to fit into a dress, run a marathon or look great at a reunion, setting goals helps you to see a light at the end of the exercise tunnel and helps you to focus on that goal.

If you’re exercising to lose weight and find it hard to commit to an hour at a time, break it up into small chunks. You can get 4 mini-workouts throughout the day, and that way you don’t spend a lot of time and still manage to get your body moving.

Accept the fact that you can’t run that marathon without training for it. Depending on your current fitness level will determine how long it will take for you to reach the goal. If you aren’t a runner now, don’t expect to start out by running a couple of miles right away. Build up to it. Start by walking, then walking and running, until you are at the point where you can run the entire time.

“All crunches, all the time” is not the proper motto to follow if you want washboard abs. Although abdominal exercises, such as crunches, help to strength the ab muscles, they do not burn the fat on your stomach. If you desire to have six-pack abs, it’s necessary to reduce your overall body fat by following an excellent diet and workout routine.

Use light exercise to recover from a hard muscle workout the day prior. Make sure you are exercising the same muscles as you did the day prior. Light weight is about 20% of what you originally used for lifting at one time. Use these light weights to do two sets of 25 repetitions to create more blood flow to repair your hurt muscles.

If you live near a city, there will be many different events and runs that you can participate in, such as a 5k. Sign up for the next big run in your area and commit yourself to training for it over the next couple of months. This will help increase your motivation and fat burning potential.

Believe it or not, your body needs sugar after a workout not just something full of protein. Try to get at least 20 grams along with your supply of protein. Protein travels by way of sugar to the muscles you just worked in your routine. Just make sure to limit the rest of your sugar for the day as to not undo what you have done.

The powerful tips above may be all you need for the success you have been waiting for. It is not difficult to get going and be fit every day of your life when you have a bag of tricks filled with information that is truly effective. Knowing the right way to do it may be all you need.