Everyone wants six-pack abs but not many people show the determination and perseverance it takes to reach their goals. If you want to get in shape, gain muscle mass and lose fat you need to maintain healthy eating habits and start a training program. These 5 simple mens fitness tips will help you get started:
1. Let go of your excuse
The most common excuses are “I’m too busy, I don’t have time”, “I’m too tired”, “It is too expensive” and “I am ashamed to go to the gym”. You don’t have to spend a lot of time working out, even 30 minutes a few days a week is enough. Physical activity actually energizes the body and makes you feel better. If you can’t afford it, there are other alternatives, like doing the exercises at home or going for a run in the park.
2. Get proper gym shoes
Although it may not seem so, an important aspect of mens fitness training is to have the right shoes. Go shopping late in the day because that is when your feet are the largest. Stability is an important aspect for exercises that involve lateral movement, so good fitting shoes are a must. If you like running, buy shoes that are especially designed for such activities.
3. Maintain healthy nutritional habits
Regardless of the type of training you do, healthy eating is essential. Don’t fuel your body with low quality food! Try a diet based on organic foods like vegetables, fruits, proteins, complex carbohydrates and polyunsaturated fats. Because you will be eating more often, make sure the portions are no larger than your fists. Use smaller plates and bowls because usually people serve more food if they’re using large dishes.
4. Follow an exercise routine
The best way to get fit is to follow a routine that consists of strength training, interval training and cardio. Strength training induces muscular contractions and builds up strength and endurance. Even 20 minutes a day will keep you in shape. Sets of one to five repetitions develop strength and muscle size, but no endurance. Sets of six to twelve repetitions are the most balanced while sets of thirteen to twenty repetitions develop endurance but limit muscle growth. HIT training (High Intensity Training) involves alternating exercises performed with a high level of effort with low intensity exercises. They should be intense, brief and infrequent. Most people alternate strength training with cardio activities like walking, running or cycling.
5. Use the buddy system
If you have a friend that also wants to have a healthier lifestyle, ask him to join you. If you exercise together you can motivate and encourage one another. Develop a mens fitness program that works for both of you and stick to it!
6. Monitor your progress
Whether you want to loose weight or fain more muscle mass, it helps you can find an efficient way of monitoring your progress. We advise you to use a body fat analyzer. This is similar to a bathroom scale, but it does a lot more than just measure your weight. It can also measure your body fat, which is very helpful. Sometimes, when you want to loose weight, it can be very frustrating to see that you are not loosing any weight for a period of time. However, during this time, you could be loosing fat and gaining muscle mass. As such, a body fat analyzer can really help you monitor the impact of your workouts.
