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Why are we making working out so hard on ourselves?
Don’t get me wrong, training should be done with grit and determination, trying to go all out every single time, but why do we look for excuses every time we have to do it?
Most people don’t really need a gym, most people want to be fit, they don’t want to get big or want to get a significant quantity of muscle mass, then why not work out at home where you can use your body as your only necessary tool to shed fat and build a decent amount of muscle?
Cardio is done without any tool other than your own bodyweight (HIIT comes to mind as the best workout to shed fat) and muscle toning and building can be achieved with most bodyweight exercises.
Some of you may believe that what I’m talking about is straight bullshit, and that it’s really hard to make a decent amount of muscle without using a barbell or machines and it’s really not, pushups can be a prime example of it, they can be modified to suit the needs of all levels.
Are you a beginner? Then you can do pushups with your knees on the ground.
Are you more of an intermediate fitness guy or gal? Then you already should know about diamond push-ups, archer push-ups, explosive push-ups, Spiderman push-ups and many more.
Advanced? Or looking to be? Then you already should be doing some one-handed push-ups and it’s variations like taking a foot of the floor while doing it or making an explosive one handed push up if you feel really adventurous.
Now if you are crazy and want to have some fun while doing pushups then you should consider doing some “Aztec pushups”. Careful not to faceplant though, haha.
All of those variations give you a different challenge and a different stress to different muscles!
Most bodyweight exercises can be modified like that to suit your specific need too! Bodyweight squats a bit too easy for you? Give pistol squats (one legged squat) a try and see how bodyweight exercises can be as hard as weighted exercises!
Sometimes all we need is a bit of creativity and will to do it!
Cardio is also a must in every fitness regimen and my favorite one if you are only looking to shed fat and have a better anaerobic system.
HIIT routines are the ones which make you go full blast for a certain amount of time and then go slow giving your body little to no rest and making it go full throttle! It’s a grueling routine that can be modified by adding or taking away exercises! (Anaerobic exercises)
If what you are looking for is more resistance then you should consider doing more long based workouts like jogging and cycling (aerobic exercises)
At the end of the day the only one holding you back on your fitness goals is you.
When you stop sabotaging your goals then you will start to see results in your physique and overall health!
Much love to all!
Previously published on Medium
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