Increasing your fitness level is a great goal. It may seem a little overwhelming at first, but it is an achievable goal. The advice offered below is step one towards better fitness. THis will make you feel good and it will also improve your health.

Your abdominal muscles need more varied exercises than just crunches. A university study found that even if you do a quarter million crunches, you'll only burn a pound of fat. So crunches alone won't help you build abs or lose fat. Add other moves to your abdominal routine, as well.

Record all of your daily activities. Include the food you eat, the beverages you drink, the exercise in which you engage -- everything. Even make note of the times you exercise and eat, and the temperature each day. This will help you notice trends associated with highs or lows in your fitness plan. If you need to skip exercise at any time, include the reason in your daily record.

An excellent investment for people who are determined to improve their current level of fitness is a personal trainer. A personal trainer will have professional insight and will give you motivation to stick to your exercise routine. Some people may not like having a personal trainer, but for some, it makes all the difference in the world.

For a general workout that will benefit multiple muscle groups, concentrate on completing a smaller number of repetitions at a higher weight. Start by choosing a muscle group. Make sure you do a set of reps using light weights. A weight that allows you to perform 15 to 20 repetitions is about right. The second set should be done with a weight with which you can complete only 6-8 repetitions. Add five pounds of weight each time.

A strong core is just as important as nice pecs or biceps. Nearly every exercise and physical task you perform requires good core strength to prevent injury. Doing sit-ups helps build extremely strong core muscles. Sit-ups also provide you with a wider range of motion. These activities will cause you to work longer and harder when focusing on your abdominal muscles.

Proper breathing can improve the beneficial effects of your workout routine. Exhale hard when you have your shoulders up while doing situps. The deep breathing causes your ab muscles to do more work than normal.

Flex your glutes when you lift weights above your head. This will help firm up your butt while helping your body to align itself better for a safer work out. This provides your spine with more stabilization.

If you want to become stronger more quickly, do your fitness routine ten percent faster. This helps your muscles getting a better workout in, while also helping to improve your stamina. For instance, if your full body workout normally takes 30 minutes, aim to finish in 27 minutes instead.

Doing dips is an excellent fitness tip you should follow. They work three areas of the body: the shoulders, triceps and chest. There are several ways to perform them, too. Position two benches so that you can do the dips in between them. The intensity of the dips can be increased with weights.

If your body is telling you to rest, then rest. Many fitness trainers tell you it's best to only take breaks at certain points in your workout routine, or only when you switch exercises. The truth is, you should listen to your body more then them. When your body says it needs to take a breather, let it have one. If not, there is a chance that you will injure yourself.

Get outside for your workouts whenever you can. You could go for walks or runs outside or exercise in your backyard. You will be rejuvenated and get a good workout. Exposure to the outdoors lowers stress levels and improves your clarity of mind.

Achieving personal fitness is the key to great health and it makes you feel wonderful. If regular exercise has not been part of your past, starting it can seem intimidating. However, you can do it with the proper assistance. The information in the next few paragraphs will help you become more fit and help you achieve your potential.