Get In Shape With This 1-Hour Workout

December 11, 2009 by Cliff Pape
Filed under Diets

If you have decided that you are truly ready to get into the best shape of your life then you are probably beginning to wonder where exactly you should begin. There are millions of workout programs and options available, which can be overwhelming to someone who is not a professional. Everyone is out to sell you something, but everyone is not out to look out for your best interests. You do want to be sure that whatever you are doing is going to be safe and is going to work for you and your body.

As far as the workout itself, you want to make sure that you are getting a well rounded workout. This is where many people go wrong. They will focus on just one type of workout or exercise machine and that is it. Truth be told, this is the last thing you want to do. You have to make sure that you are getting everything in, but don’t worry, you do not have to spend hours a day working out in order to do it. In fact, you can have the best workout of your life in as little as one hour. If you are ready to make a change, now is the time.

20 Minutes Of Cardiovascular Activity

Cardio is one of the best things you can do for your body, which is why it must be included in every workout. It keeps your heart working hard, which increases your metabolism and decreases your blood pressure. It also decreases your cholesterol and improves the overall function of your heart.

So for 20 minutes you will want to engage in cardiovascular activity. This can include running, jogging, biking, speed walking, swimming, or aerobic exercise. The main idea is that you want to keep your heart pumping above a certain level for 20 minutes. Just make sure that you do a good warm up and a good cool down with this kind of exercise.

Circuit Training For 20 Minutes

Circuit training involves a group of 2 to 4 different exercises that are done in a cycle. The cycle is repeated several times through and is primarily geared toward muscle building and getting rid of fat. Circuits are lots of fun and keep the intensity of a workout going and also keep you from getting bored.

An example of a circuit-training workout would be to complete as many push-ups within 30 seconds. Then complete as many full squats as you can within 30 seconds. Keeping with this time frame, move to sit-ups, lunges and then to chin-ups. Once you have gone through all of those, repeat the entire cycle starting back with the push-ups.

20 Minutes of Abdominal Exercise

Most people have a difficult time with their stomachs so doing 20 minutes of abdominal exercises everyday should help. Having strong abs is also good for your health, for your back, for your posture and for protecting your internal organs and your breathing. Working on your core muscles is great for your health

A great way to keep the abs busy is to use and exercise ball. Placing the ball on the floor, lay on it in a crunch position with your feet touching the floor. Do crunches as you usually would for 20 minutes, alternating a bit so that you work the front and the side.

Cliff Pape is a Houston Personal Trainer who has helped hundreds of people in the Houston area to lose weight and stay in shape. He recommends changing your eating habits to diets like Medifast to help improve the results of any workout. Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.