As the New Year quickly approaches, millions of Americans are thinking about resolutions to shed a few pounds and get into better shape. The reality, however, is that few will ever achieve results. The problem, according to experts at the online personal fitness site HyperStrike, is that Americans typically have the wrong strategy when it comes to tackling their fitness resolutions. Too many people focus on inches and pounds, rather than on conditioning the body's muscles. With that in mind, HyperStrike is declaring 2007 "The Year of the Muscle." While many begin the New Year with good intentions, few stick with it. In fact, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), more than 50 percent of people discontinue exercise programs within three-to-six months. However, despite the skimpy success of past New Year's fitness programs, HyperStrike believes that building muscle is the key to making this year's resolution a victory.
"A lot of people believe they need to spend hours on the treadmill to lose body fat -- that is simply not the case," says Michael Greeves, HyperStrike's CEO. "Gaining lean muscle increases a person's resting metabolic rate (RMR) much faster than endurance exercises alone. Strength training combined with metabolic conditioning is the best way to transform your body."
Specialized online fitness services and resources are changing the way people exercise, helping individuals vary their workouts, tap into the latest workouts tips and trends, access workouts on-the-go to fit busy lifestyles, and stay motivated. Following are a few suggestions for developing and maintaining a solid workout program in the New Year:
1. Mix it up for more muscle -- Keep your body guessing and you'll progress faster. Use online fitness services and resources to augment your workout program, making sure to vary the type of exercise, the length of rest periods, sequence of exercises, number of repetitions, and training loads and distances. 2. Train as if life is a sport -- Exercise for "real-world" fitness, making sure that you follow a well-rounded fitness regime. It's great to have ripped abs and huge biceps, but if you can't run a mile, something is wrong. A healthy lifestyle requires more than just raw strength. It demands a balance of mental toughness, agility, stamina, strength-endurance, and physical strength. 3. Be consistent and persistent -- Following the world's best training program only one day per week is less effective than doing a moderate program three times a week. Make sure to go to the gym or train at home at least three times per week to maximize your results.
