Fitness requires three things, dedication to your goals, a willingness to change your life, and a plan. Without a plan, it’s too easy to quit your new lifestyle when things get hard. The following information will help you in creating your plan of action on the road to being physically fit.

Try to use free weights rather than exercise machines. While exercise machines are great a way to stay fit, your body can actually benefit more from free weights. Free weights work stabilizer muscles that most machines don’t. Not to mention, free weights are also much less expensive and bulky. It is a better choice all around to add free weights to your home gym.

One way to maximize your fitness routine is to change the order in which you count. Doing so will result in positive thinking, and push you to do better. It will be almost a “downhill” effect for your brain. Pushing yourself is all about positive thinking and tricking your brain to work for you.

Here is a fitness tip! If you experience post-workout fatigue, try to avoid taking painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. While these drugs do well for problems like inflammation, they are not very effective after a workout. In fact, some experts warn that using these drugs can actually hinder muscle development. If possible, try and stick to a hot shower and a good stretch to ease your soreness!

Be careful to protect your neck when doing a fitness program that involves crunches. One way to reduce strain on your neck when doing crunches is to hold your tongue at the roof of your mouth. This aligns your neck and makes it easier to do the crunches.

So, what do you want out of your fitness plan? Whether it’s weight loss, toning or just improving the state of your health – you can succeed in your goals. Take the information above and use what works for you. It’s your body, take good care of yourself!