Many people think that exercise routines are all about groaning and sweating, that powering their way to exhaustion is a sign of a successful workout. That’s not the case at all. Except for extreme workouts designed for extreme results, exercising should be pushing gently against your personal envelope. Do what you can handle, and maybe push yourself just a little beyond your comfort level. Pain is not necessary for gain.

Here are some other hints for better workouts.

Support Muscles

To protect the weak points of our body during strenuous exercise, we should shore up the supporting muscles. For instance, strong thighs are important to help prevent knee and hip injury, so leg curls are a good preamble to deep knee bends. Tearing a ligament is among the commonest sports-related injuries. You should anticipate your weaknesses and work to strengthen the supporting muscles around them.

Reps

When you are lifting weights, remember that more repetitions with lighter weights will add more muscle mass than doing fewer reps with heavier weights. Muscle mass is not built solely by lifting large amounts of weight; endurance is also key. The largest body builders in the world follow this rule.

Be Comfy, Not Trendy

Wear clothes that are comfortable when you are working out. If you attend a gym, there might be some social pressure to wear new, trendy outfits. This is only distracting you from your real goal: to lose weight and/or become more fit. You’re better off wearing workout clothes that are easy to move around in. Lightweight wicking clothes are best. The more comfortable you are, the more enjoyable your workouts will be, and the more success you will have.

Work Those Abs

Defining your abs requires more than just a few crunches. A major research university study has shown that it takes a quarter million crunches to burn only a single pound of fat. You should also work out your abs in alternate ways. Vary your technique for best results.

Rest Those Abs

Many people mistakenly believe that they are able to do abdominal muscle exercises every single day. This is not ideal for this muscle group. Abs are like any other muscle and need rest too! You should strive to give your abs a 2 to 3 day rest after every good workout.

Call In Sick

Never attempt to move from your sick bed to your workout routine. Your body doesn’t build muscle at this time. Instead, it is directing its resources toward fighting off whatever is ailing you. This is why you should only exercise while you feel well. While you’re waiting to heal up, take care of your body with a good diet and plenty of sleep.

Stretch During Rests

Try stretching your muscles while you are relaxing between sets. You should stretch your target muscle groups for 20 or 30 seconds during each break. Research indicates that men have increased their strength by around 20 percent by stretching. Stretching can also decrease the chance of injury.

Sit Up

Try doing real sit-ups along with crunches when you work out. Sit-ups have been getting a poor reputation lately. You should always steer clear of anchored sit ups that require you to anchor your feet. This type of sit-up can still be murder on your back.

Count Down

Instead of counting your exercise reps as you do them, start your count with your goal number and count backwards from there. This makes your workout sessions seem easier and shorter since you’re seeing them in smaller amounts.

Get Out

Go outside to do your workouts whenever you can. Go for a hike, take a jog on the beach, or play a sport. This will help your body and invigorate you. Being outside can relax you and lower stress.

Thumbs Up

Don’t wrap your thumb around the bars when you do exercises like pull ups. You will be able to focus on your back muscles if you put your thumb behind your index finger. It can take some getting used to, but it will work the correct muscles.

You should make fitness a part of your daily life. Don’t regard it as an extra chore. Instead, make it as natural to your daily life as breathing. By living a healthier way of life, you will not only have increased energy, but you will be prepared better to deal with any problem that life throws at you.

What little training techniques help you stay fit?