The Most Effective Workouts For a Healthy Lifestyle

1.     Interval Training. Whether it be walking, running, swimming, bicycling or using your elliptical, add interval training to the physical activity. Rather than maintaining a steady pace, by dividing your workouts at around 2-3 minutes, where you switch from high and low intensity, you are challenging your muscles. Thus, keeping them guessing and on their feet. This is also a great way to boost your metabolism. 

2.     Push Ups have always been the simple and reliable workout, that helps in strengthening your chest, shoulders and arms. Depending on your experience and strength, however, beginning parallel to the floor, attempting to push of your whole-body weight may not seem so easy. So, begin by pushing off the kitchen island. Slowing as you improve, get lower and lower, using a desk, then a bench. When you graduate to the ground, don’t rush, begin with your knees bent, before you attempt the big leagues.

3.     Crunches are a sure-fire way to slim and strengthen the abdomen. However, it requires like all workouts it requires commitment. Begin with using something or someone to hold your feet down as you pull yourself up. As your body strengthens and gets used to the motion, try with nothing holding you down. Remember, the aim is to lift your body up, whist keeping your feet rooted to the ground. Once you’ve gotten a hang of it, try lifting your feet, with your thighs and shins forming a 90% angle, and your shins parallel to the ground.

4.     Squats are a great exercise for toning and strengthening the quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteal muscles. However, remember to keep your neck straight and face forward, rather than to the floor. A great trick for beginners is using a chair, to know when to hold yourself. Begin by sitting on the chair. Then carry yourself up as you would raise from a squat. When going back down, barely graze the chair, that should be your stopping point. As you get more comfortable take away the chair, and later, add dumbbells.

5.     Lunges, like squats, require the use of all major leg muscles in the body. Also, it helps improve balance. If you are new to lungs, begin with forward lunges, then work your way to side lungs. To add to the challenge, use dumbbells for extra weight.