Total Body Workout
If you lift weights at all either to improve muscle tone or to just increase your metabolism, you know the process is one that takes a great deal of commitment in both time and energy. You also know that such workouts require a lot of specialized equipment that most people cannot afford. Sure, a few products such as the Total Gym advertised by Chuck Norris or the Nordic Flex give the same results and take up less space, but most people can not go out and purchase a home gym training system either.
A total body workout tries to minimize the need for equipment or doing a lot of exercises. Instead, a total body workout aims to work as many muscles in the body as possible without any specialized equipment. The good news is that results from a total body workout can be achieved just as quickly as with a more traditional exercise regimen. Even better news for the person switching to total body exercises from traditional weightlifting routines is that
The goal is to replace several workout sessions that may involve four or five different exercises in a muscle group, with one or two exercises where you are using the muscles all over the body in a single session. Rather than several sessions in a gym or on a machine that are conducted at a relaxed pace and might take a little longer, total body workout sessions should consist of intense training periods that last no more than an hour at a time. Be sure to work the biceps, arms, shoulders, chest, abdomen, and legs every time you enter into a gym for your total body workout.
To work the biceps, a curl is the best exercise, and the upper arms and chest respond well to bench presses, chin ups, or the standard push up. The abdominal muscles are worked by crunches still work the best, and squats work best for improving muscle performance in the legs. Working the shoulder prevents injuries, but a very small amount of weight – no more than five pounds should be used to work the rotator cuff.
There are other forms of total body workouts that do not involve weight lifting. Forms of Yoga which are easier to do and do not cause as much strain on the body can produce the same effects as a series of exercises designed to work the muscles, but take more training.
Regardless of how what type of exercises you choose to do for your total body workout, working the body all at once not only saves you time, but it maximizes your results from each exercise. Instead of toning one group of muscles at a time and gaining strength in one area, all areas of your body will become stronger using total body workout methods. All you need to do is set aside 45 minutes to an hour three times a week. And of course, don't do it if a doctor tells you not to prior to starting any work out routines.
