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fitness workout checklist to results

Do you know exactly what a fitness workout is comprised of? A proper understanding of a fitness workout will help deliver results in your fitness training program. Some people feel a fitness workout is doing cardiovascular work on the treadmill five days a week. Others feel a weight lifting workout three days a week is an ideal fitness workout. Both parties are fundamentally wrong!

A fitness workout is a combination of all the major fitness components. Unlike muscle building workouts, fitness training workouts are more balanced according to the goals of the fitness enthusiast.

If you are participating in overall fitness conditioning, and that is your primary goal, the three component of fitness are necessary. Below I have provided a fitness workout checklist listing what you must incorporate into a sound, well rounded workout focused on fitness.

Cardiovascular Exercise - Make sure your workout incorporates cardiovascular training. For overall fitness, it is important to improve your aerobic capacity. This is where you walk, run, bike, or use an elliptical trainer for an extended period of 20 minutes or more at a heart rate of 65% - 85% of your maximum heart rate. Maximum heart rate is calculated by 220 - Age.

Weight Lifting Workout - Strength training must be incorporated into a healthy fitness workout. Only 2 days each week is required for maximum muscle building results. Weight lifting is responsible for maintaining your muscle tone leading to physical independence as you age. If you don't use the muscles, you will lose them. For greater strength and muscle, stick to repetitions between 8-12. For muscle endurance training stick to 12 + reps.

Flexibility - Last, but not least, is flexibility training. This fitness component is necessary for maintaining elasticity, and range of motion in the muscle, and joint. Stretching is also good for injury prevention, and relaxation.

For variety I recommend changing around your weight lifting workout schedule from time to time. Cross training with your cardiovascular exercise is a great tip for keeping your body and mind stimulated. Cross training means changing machines from workout to workout. An example would be some days you will walk of the treadmill, while other days you will bike.

Don't make the same mistake millions of fitness enthusiasts are making. Please incorporate these three simple components in your fitness workout. Not utilizing all three will result in an incomplete fitness program which can possibly dictate poor results.

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