Let's face it, everyone of us could be in better shape. By getting in better shape we lower our risk for many disorders and ailments. This can extend your life and improve its quality. One simple way to start a simple fitness workout routine is to set aside a mere half hour a day. After some time with that routine it would be possible to focus on areas you are specifically interested in improving.

It is best for people who are unfit to start with lower impact, and body weight resistance exercises. So there is no need to run out and buy so many thousands of dollars of equipment for your new fitness workout routine. Wait until you know better what you will need. Exercises such as push-ups, squats, and crunches, which use the bodies own weight to provide resistance can be done by anyone. Small hand weights can be used for light weight high repetition overhead presses with the arms. Suitable weights for this should be just a few pounds, one, three, and five pound are the most common. These can be found very nearly everywhere that would sell any exercise or sports equipment.

Always remember to warm up and warm down. It's very important to set aside five minutes at the start and finish of your fitness workout routine. If you don't warm up and down each and every time you exercise you put yourself at risk for pain. Not taking the few minutes required can cause you potentially serious injury. During both the warm up and warm down you need to stretch the muscle groups that you will be using with in your fitness workout routine that day. You should feel a light stretching sensation in the muscle you are intending to stretch, do not force the movement to cause pain, this can cause injury as well. Some light walking is also a good warm up and warm down if your routine includes any running.

A good routine also includes a bit of intense cardio exercise. Any thing that really gets your heart going is the key here. The most common would have to be running, as people can run absolutely anytime with nothing more then decent shoes. There are any number of other exercises that can fulfill the cardio requirement of you routine. Activities such as jumping rope, or pedaling an exercise bike are great. The point is to get your heart rate up and then to keep it up for about five minutes. Don't over exert yourself at the beginning, do what you can, but make sure it is a little more each time. Your fitness workout routine will show results over the next short weeks.