Putting together a home exercise program can be a little bit daunting if you don't have a clear set of goals laid out in front of you. Take a commonsense approach and commence with increasing your current fitness level in little steps. Don't try to do everything all at once.

A basic workout routine consists of five days total with three of the days focused on training with weights and two days aimed at improving cardio conditioning. The two days off will give your body time to recover and repair itself.

The home fitness program you put in place will be the foundation that provides greater fitness in the least amount of time with better results. Exercising efficiently will burn a greater amount of calories within a smaller time frame and enable you to build up strength and conditioning.

The number one priority in an exercise routine should be to increase flexibility because it enhances performance and minimizes the risk of injury.

Stretching will help the joints with movement through a full range and increase blood flow to all the muscles.

Two types of stretching to consider when putting a fitness plan in place are Static stretching, extending a muscle to its farthest point and holding the position and Dynamic stretching, taking specific movements and using momentum to extend to a precise range of motion.

When performing a stretch program make sure to work the whole body from top to bottom and use your own judgment as to how long to hold a position. Stretching should not be painful, do what you can and you'll see improvements in your flexibility over time.

There are a variety of options to choose from when adding cardiovascular training to your home exercise program. Pick activities that will be fun and enjoyable, don't be scared to change it up and add variety to the routine.

When first starting out, you will have an endless amount of cardio exercise equipment to pick and choose. Treadmill, elliptical trainer, and rowing machines are all excellent options and each one has its place in a good workout program, but don't forget that walking and running are just as beneficial.

Figuring out the time required to build up cardio endurance depends on the level of fitness and the desired results. A good guideline to go by is 2-3 times a week with a minimum time per workout of 30 minutes.

A novice should do what they are capable of and eventually work their way up to the desired time.

Weight training is a beneficial way to increase strength and endurance. As you progress with lifting weights, your muscles will get stronger and increase in size.

A weight training home exercise program will revolve around the number of sets you do and how many repetitions of each movement.

Start with three sets of eight repetitions for the areas of the body being trained and use seventy percent of the maximum weight you can lift. Use correct form when performing the techniques to get the most out of the movement and prevent injuries.

You can start a simple weight program with some weights and a barbell, and a pair of adjustable kettlebells. The program should hit all the major muscle groups and focus on full body movements to build up functional strength.

A basic home exercise program starts with the fitness enthusiast coming up with a few good home gym ideas and putting them into practice. Make adjustments as you see improvements in your fitness level. Fun is a major factor in staying consistent with a program put into place.