Want to meet and exceed your fitness goals? You'll need to incorporate the cardio and strength training combo. Cardiovascular exercises are important because they help your body to increase endurance and stamina. They raise the heart rate for an extended period of time and burn calories at a higher rate in a short period of time. {relatedarticles}Strength training builds and develops lean, active, fat-burning muscle. As you continue to build and develop muscle, your metabolism speeds up. This means you will continue burning calories hours after you've left the gym and even when you're at rest. Make sure to kick your workout into full gear by combining the two fitness powerhouses -- cardio and strength training -- into your fitness program. It's easy to find a cardio workout - just lace up your shoes and hit the bricks, the pool or one of the various machines at the gym, like the treadmill, stair stepper or elliptical trainer.
Challenging and fun classes that incorporate cardio include spinning, bellydancing and even strip aerobics! Don't chain yourself to the treadmill for the same old workout every day - challenge yourself! Mixing up your strength training regimen may be more challenging, but you can work in variety by switching up days when you work the upper and lower body. {relatedarticles}One trend in weightlifting includes using kettlebells, which originated in Russia, where bodybuilders used them. They're bowling ball-shaped weights with handles that challenge the user not only to use strength, but also balance in order to lift and swing the weights. A little creativity goes a long way when it comes to your workouts.