Fitness Workout Routine - Lean, Toned, and Strong

Fitness Workout Routine - Lean, Toned, and Strong

Most people want the kind of fitness workout routine that is going to give them the perfect beach body; lean with a little muscle in all the right places and of course, a great set of abs. Most of us are not looking to become muscle-bound behemoths. 

The good news is that it really is next to impossible to become accidentally muscle-bound. Those bodybuilders that seek to get huge devote every minute of their life to the task, so don't think it will just happen by accident. The idea that trying to get stronger will make you massive is just dead wrong. In fact, getting stronger is one of the best ways to get that lean, sleek look.

For years now there have been a lot of misconceptions about strength training. For example, many women are encouraged by so-called fitness trainers not to squat with weights as it will give you a "huge butt". In my twenty-some-odd years of experience I have noticed the opposite. Those women who squat tend to have very tight and shapely glutes. Even more incredible may be the observation that the stronger the women were, the perkier their bum looked. So go ahead and ignore squatting with weights, but do so to your own detriment.

An added benefit of squatting is that it actually gives you abdominals a great workout. You want beach-worthy abs. Make sure you include squats in your routine.

Likewise, many people avoid chin ups. It seems to be an exercise only a muscle-head would need to do. It's no coincidence that chins ups are very hard to do. Often times the avoidance of these hard exercises are rationalized away by claiming they are for gym rats or bodybuilders. If you go to a gym or just joined one try to notice those who chin up regularly. They tend to be fitter people. Hard work gets the best results so it only makes sense that the hard exercises will get you the most dramatic results.

Deadlifts, kettlebells, standing overhead barbell presses, dips, and nearly any conceivable difficult exercise is often avoided by the majority of people. But these exercises are the ones that are going to give you the beach body you want. Aim to get strong in all these difficult lifts and you will be amazed at how you can transform your body into the body you have always wanted.

The only caution, besides checking with your doctor beforehand, is to find either sensible fitness trainers, online guides, or instructional manuals that will help you to perfect the form of each of these lifts. Form is paramount - screw it up and you won't get any results besides likely injuring yourself.

Start with light weights and perfect your form. Don't work to failure. Stop 2 or 3 repetitions before you think your muscles would actually give out. That way you can concentrate on having perfect form on every rep. Pretty soon you'll be able to handle heavier weights safely as you start looking better and better.