If you're just starting a fitness program to lose a few pounds, or you want just want to improve your health and fitness levels it can get a bit confusing if you're working out for the first time. You just need to understand that the basic principle is the same. In order to get more fit you need to elevate your heart rate. When you raise your heart rate all kinds of good things begin to happen, but you have to be consistent at it. If you keep at it for several days a week for several months you'll see a marked improvement.
The idea is to gradually let your body adjust to the changes over time, as opposed to working out to long or to hard any given day and being to sore to do anything else for the rest of the week. Working out causes stress to your muscles and they break down and gets stronger as you recover, usually 48 - 72 hours for normal workouts. Elite athletes often go hard one day followed by a day or two of easy "recovery" workouts while the muscles recover, a sort of active rest.
Getting fit doesn't have to be so strenuous that it taxes you both physically and mentally to the breaking point and dreading the next time you have to workout. It could be something as simple as throwing on and old t-shirt and shorts, a pair of old tennis shoes and taking the dog out for a brisk walk. Bicycling, swimming, rollerblading, dance aerobics, etc. also can produce excellent workouts. Try to pick something you enjoy doing so it's easier to stick to a fitness program.
Some people invest in a fitness machine so that they can do it in the comfort of their own home whenever the mood hits them rather than having to get dressed up and drive down to the local health club to get a workout. Exercise bikes, treadmills, elliptical trainers, recumbent bikes makes excellent home gym equipment, you can get a workout while watching your favorite TV shows or having to watch the kids.
Whatever kind of fitness program you choose plan on doing it consistently for it to be effective either in managing your weight or improving your cardiovascular health. Many people find that doing something they enjoy helps when it comes to maintaining a fitness program long term.
Elevating your heart rate during workouts helps to strengthen the cardiovascular system, but it does put more strain on your heart muscles. If you suffer from heart problems or have a family history of heart problems or disease it's recommended that you check with your doctor before starting any kind of fitness program.
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