Regardless of whether you are aiming to shed a couple of pounds or are looking to complete a long race, you will only succeed if you follow a good fitness regime. Since a lot of people don’t know where to start, we’ve done the work for you and compiled a list of tips and tricks to get you on your way.

Implement an workout routine that you will have no problem sticking too. Make sure your exercise routine is enjoyable, so that working out becomes a treat instead of an ordeal.

Walking can help you to attain the fitness goals that you desire. For increased effort, walk by pushing off your heel and going to your toe. You can also work your arms when walking by keeping your elbows bent and swinging them after each step.

Doing some simple push-ups can help you get your triceps in shape. Only instead of doing a normal-style push-up, you can directly target the triceps by turning your hands in 45 degrees, until your fingertips are facing each other. This targets those difficult to reach triceps that are very hard to exercise.

Crunches shouldn’t be all you concentrate on when you’re working out abdominal muscles. A university study has shown that it takes a quarter million crunches to burn a single pound of fat. Relying only on crunches means that you are not working as hard as you should be. Rotate in other abdominal exercises to improve your results.

Always wear comfortable clothing while you are exercising. If you go to a gym, you may feel tempted to wear certain things but ignore that. Wear clothes that you can easily move around in without feeling embarrassed. Wearing the correct clothing helps you put your emphasis on working out, not on your clothes.

Breathing in a controlled manner can make your workouts more effective. Try to exhale hard as your shoulders come to their peak during situps. Because your muscles contract when you exhale, your abdominal muscles get a better workout than they would without the exhalation.

It is perfectly normal to need to see the results of your dieting efforts in order to fuel your level of motivation. Try wearing tight clothes instead of using the scale. You will be able to see every week how you are losing inches not just pounds.

If you plan on participating in a sprint, one of your goals should be to increase your running stride speed. One way to make that happen is to practice running so that your foot lands directly under your body rather than in front of your body. Use the toes of your rear foot to push off with and launch your body forward. As you get better at this technique, your speed will increase.

There are some exercise pros that support increasing strength by stretching the same muscles you just used in your workout. These are brief stretches done in between sets. You need not stretch for long; 30 or even 20 seconds should be sufficient. Stretching in this way gets prove results. Studies demonstrate strength increases of as much as 20%. Also, the chances of muscle injury are greatly reduced by stretching.

Count your reps down. While counting reps in your workout, count down instead of up. It actually makes your exercise sessions appear to be less hard or long, since you are giving yourself the luxury of smaller increments of time. Telling yourself you have a certain amount left can help you retain motivation.

To keep things interesting, try television workouts. Find exercise shows that can help your workout from the comfort of home. Not only will you be trying something new, but your brain will be focused elsewhere wondering what is coming up next. If your TV network does not air fitness shows, look for videos and exercise routines online.

Now that you read the information from above, you should be aware of what it takes to achieve a good level of fitness. If you stick with your routine and stay motivated, you’re sure to make progress. The benefits will begin quickly and last you a lifetime.