For some people, getting and staying fit can be like having a second job. Usually, the reason for this is that they do not know the most efficient ways to work on their fitness. In the article below, you are going to be given advice that will help make getting in shape a piece of cake!

A good tip that may help you get fit is to eat cottage cheese or milk before bed. Cottage cheese and milk, along with a few other foods, contain casein protein, which actually promotes lean body mass when eaten before bed. There are also protein powders that contain casein protein.

If you want to develop your muscle mass, try lifting heavier weights and doing less reps. Target one muscle area you want to workout and work on that area. Start with lighter weight to warm up your muscles. Do 15-20 reps during this warm-up set. The next set should include about 6 to 8 repetitions with a heavier weight. Add about five more pounds and repeat.

After a particularly strenuous workout of a muscle group, you can help your body to recover from the stress by performing a lightly targeted workout of the affected muscles one day after. By gently engaging the muscle, you are helping it to repair itself faster by enabling your body to more efficiently deliver nutrients and blood to the area.

It is best to not workout on an empty stomach. Your body needs fuel, particularly if you are putting it through a grueling and sweat-inducing workout. Fuel up on good, healthy foods that will provide you with the energy you need to get through your workout and your body will thank you.

If you are a runner, even the way you hold your head can affect the quality of your workout. For example, most people tend to hunch forward when running uphill. By keeping your head up and focusing your vision at the top of the hill, however, you are allowing your airways to open more fully, making breathing much easier.

Many people want to improve their balance. A great way to do this is to balance on an unsteady surface like a sofa cushion. This will improve your balance dramatically. You can also add something heavy like a phone book, and move it from hand to hand to improve your balance.

If you alter the way you normally hold the weight bar while bench pressing, lower the amount you are pressing by ten percent. Just a simple grip change means you will be stressing different muscles and joints than you are typically used to, which could lead to injuries. The weight decrease will help prevent these injuries from occurring.

As was stated in the beginning of this article, some people feel like it is work to get into shape and stay that way. This is why it is important for you to use that this advice has provided to you–doing so will help you to see that getting into shape is easier than you ever could have thought.