Top Ten Strategies For Fitness Success

It really is as simple as putting on a pair of shoes and moving. Anything other than sitting on the couch is good for your health. However, if you want to see improvements in your fitness level, here are ten strategies for exercising properly, preventing injury, and avoiding frustration.

1. Consistency. One workout every two weeks is better than zero workouts every two weeks. Don't quit your gym membership just because you haven't been there in a while. If you've fallen off the wagon, get back on and move forward. You need to exercise several times a week for the rest of your life.

2. Appropriate Intensity. Exercise must overload your muscles, heart, and lungs in order for these body systems to adapt and get stronger. No overload, no results. No results = waste of time. Ensure your intensity zone is challenging enough to see results, but not so difficult for you to become discouraged or injured.

3. Time Effectiveness. Regular life gobbles up most of our 168 hours each week. Workouts must make maximal use of your time invested, or your adherence will go out the window. Choose movements that use multiple joints and more than one muscle group simultaneously. Transition quickly between movements and have a little downtime as possible.

4. Muscle Balance. Because we are forward-moving creatures, we have an imbalance of strength and flexibility on the front and back sides of our body. This leads to misaligned joints and potentially injury and pain. A comprehensive workout plan targets upper, lower, front, back, right, and left sides of the body.

5. Rest. Exercise is stress on the body. During a workout, you tear muscles, inflame connective tissues, and deplete energy stores. After a workout, you are broken and weak. Go home and rest. This time is needed for your heart, lungs, and muscles become stronger and more efficient. Amount of rest needed depends on exercise intensity and specific body parts targeted.

6. Cross-Training. The body has a sneaky way of finding the path of least resistance. Have the same workout over and over and over, and you'll smash into a motivational plateau. Cross train by choosing a variety of workouts and activities to move your body in different ways, preventing injury and maintaining interest.

7. Proper technique. Every joint is designed to handle a certain amount of force, plane of movement, and range of motion. Improper technique (too much force, twisting, or beyond range of motion) is a sure path to injury. Watch out for momentum too. Uncontrolled speed is both ineffective and detrimental.

8. Realistic & Measurable Goals. Set yourself up for success. "I will get outside and walk vigorously for 45 minutes four times a week for the next two months" is a goal over which you have 100% control. Try to keep pounds and inches out of your goal statements. Let weight loss simply be a positive side effect of a healthy lifestyle.

9. Accountability. The hardest part of every workout is showing up. Hire a fitness trainer, team up with your best friend, or join a group. Thinking of a valid excuse about why you'd rather be home on the couch is almost impossible when someone is counting on you. Even on your laziest or busiest day, accountability works.

10. Fun. There are as many ways to move your arms and legs as there are people in the world. There is no reason why a workout should feel like punishment or simply a means to an end. Find what you like, and DO IT. Exercise is invigorating, empowering, and a darn good time.

When it comes to achieving the disease prevention and stress management benefits of exercise, lace up and head out the door almost daily. These ten strategies may leave you with more questions than answers. Seek the help of a fitness professional (personal training or group exercise) to ensure your time and energy is spent wisely. You're worth the investment.

Moveball™ is an exciting, innovative fitness training system for everyone. It's a whole-body cardiovascular and muscle conditioning workout that is extremely functional, time effective, and fun. Check out http://www.moveballfitness.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anita_Parker

Nothing Else Compares To Eye Lash Growth.

By Wendy Phelps

For mostly women, the search is often on, on how to get longer eye lashes as they can take an eternity to grow. Strangely enough, they are one of those few facial hairs that just never seems to grow more than a certain length.

Eyelashes are made up of keratin as is all the hair on our bodies. Just like the hair on our heads, the structure of our lashes is vulnerable to environmental damage and everyday wear and tear.

The time in between the natural process of one hair falling out and being replaced by another we can protect these "structures" by keeping them healthy, plump and strong from their roots to their tips.

This reason is that we have to understand that eyelashes are there to serve a purpose - to protect our eye. An eyelash is "one" hair and almost always grows a certain length. It's there to protect us against dust and fragments in the air which may pose our eyes some harm.

Other useful herbs and plants for this job are are Rosemary, Lavender and Chamomile.

Firstly it's important to note the growth cycle of an eyelash.

An eyelash on average takes 45 days to reach its maximum length, after this the eyelash might grow a fraction of a little more depending on your genetic makeup but also your diet.

Although the use of false eyelashes and mascara were able to make women happy, they did not stop searching for ways to have natural-looking long and thick lashes

The eyelash then falls out, and it takes a further 8 weeks approximately for that hair follicle to begin to start the cycle of re-growing that hair.

Natural ingredients to speed up eyelash growth

It has been sold in the market for quite some time to answer the fancy of women for dark, long and thick lashes. Eyelash growth serum was claimed to be the ideal product that induce the growth of lashes naturally.

Several brands of eyelash serum were introduced but dissatisfaction surfaced. Adverse effects were discovered particularly for the prescription eyelash growth serum.

You can add other ingredients to eyelash serums but these are great for sensitive skin and eyes so are suitable for most skin types.

Certain eyelash accelerators can now help women who want to know how to get longer eyelashes, by applying these non-irritating clinically tested formulas on a daily basis.

Expect to see results within the first 7 to 14 days and you will now have your answer on how to get longer eyelashes, without ever having to use fake alternatives again.

About the Author:

Visit the official website for the best eye lash growth treatment that is natural and safe for you to use with out side effects.