You know how it feels when you click on a tasty-looking recipe, only to find out you need 28 different ingredients, two hours, and some weird kitchen gadget you’ve never heard of to make it? That’s how it can feel when you decide to get in shape.

You figure you’ll just lace up your sneakers and get started — but then you’ve got magazines and message boards and friends and trainers bombarding you with workout tips about heart rate zones and cardio and weightlifting and some aggressive-sounding thing called HIIT.

Wading through all the information and deciphering what’s fact from fiction can be overwhelming, but don’t get discouraged. You don’t need to be a fitness expert to get results. Armed with a bit of basic info, you can start seeing progress quickly, which can make all the difference when it comes to staying motivated and sticking with your program.

Read on for answers to common beginner questions about working out and getting fit. These are verified workout tips you can actually trust.

How often do I need to work out?

Anything is better than nothing, but shoot for at least three times a week, and remain active (by walking, doing yoga, etc.) every day. Working out more often can lead to faster results — as long as you’re smart about it.

Once you’ve nailed your fitness goals, it’s okay to scale back a little — but not completely. To maintain your progress, you must keep your activity level high.

How long should my workouts be?

The answer depends entirely on how hard you’re willing to work. According to a recent study, 20 minutes of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) — which alternates short bursts of intense effort with periods of low-intensity rest — produced a similar reduction in body fat as 40 minutes of continuous, moderate to vigorous exercise.

In short, if you’re someone who can “bring it,” you can slash your workout time in half.

What’s the best time of day to work out?

This one is easy: The best time of day to work out is the time when you can do so consistently. Are you a family man (or woman) with a stressful job? Get your sweat on in the mornings before other people can start making demands on your time.

Do you often have lunches free? Schedule your workouts for midday. Do you typically leave work needing to blow off some steam? Evening workouts will likely give you the outlet you need.

Bottom line: There is no best time for everyone, but there is a best time for you.

What should I eat before a workout?

It depends. If it’s a light workout, you should be able to power through it without extra fuel. But if you’re going to hit it hard and keep hitting it for a while, eat a healthy snack that contains a mixture of carbs and protein (e.g., apple slices with peanut butter) one to three hours before you begin.

Do I need electrolytes while I exercise?

When you sweat, you not only lose water, but also high concentrations of sodium and chloride. Electrolyte drinks are used to replace what you lose.

But as long as you stay hydrated, eat a balanced diet, and work out less than 60 minutes a day, you can probably skip the sports drink.

The kicker is that most people don’t drink enough water throughout the day to start their workouts well hydrated. So make sure you drink enough water regardless of the situation.

How do I get rid of my muffin top?

You can’t spot-reduce fat, but you will see your muffin top shrink as you lose overall body fat. In addition to dialing in your diet and dialing up your workout frequency and intensity, focus on making a few other key lifestyle changes that can accelerate fat loss, such as logging enough sleep, increasing your daily activity level outside of your workouts, and reducing your overall stress level.

How much weight should I lift? What if I don’t want to bulk up?

Always lift the heaviest weight that will allow you to complete not only all of your sets of a given exercise, but the entire workout. Also, don’t worry about bulking up — especially if you’re a woman. Most women don’t have the genetics to build beefy “man muscle,” so that shouldn’t even be a concern.

And most men would need to spend years pumping iron to build the kind of physique that would land them in a bodybuilding or strongman competition (if indeed they were genetically predisposed to build that kind of muscle in the first place).

Here’s what you can expect from working out consistently: a stronger, leaner, more defined version of the body you have right now.

I’m hella sore from my last workout. Should I go hard, go easy, or take a rest day?

It depends on your level of soreness. A little bit of movement can boost your circulation and shorten recovery time, so resist the urge to just sit on the couch if your soreness is minimal to moderate. Instead, opt for a light workout, and be sure to stretch and/or foam roll afterward.

If you’re completely hobbled or concerned that you might have pulled a muscle, go ahead and rest — your body needs a recovery day (or days) now and then.

But also know this: No workout should leave you hella sore. If you feel excessively sore after you work out, you pushed yourself too hard. Dial back the intensity next time.

Also, don’t think that more soreness equals greater gains. Soreness is a poor indicator of workout quality or effectiveness.

What’s better for losing weight — cardio or strength?

Strength training will always trump steady-state cardio (think: jogging) when it comes to shedding pounds. But why pick one when you can choose both? Nowadays, many workout programs combine strength and cardio with HIIT. Talk about efficiency!

What’s the deal with the heart rate zones? Which one should I aim for?

Elite athletes and endurance runners closely monitor their heart rates during training. But if you don’t fall into either of those categories, don’t worry about it. Just go as hard as you can, recover, and repeat.

Source: OpenFit

Looking for more information on keeping your body happy and healthy? We've got lots of great blogs and articles you can check out. Also, get ready for the upcoming LiveFit Festival! With tons of activities, and speakers covering a wide range of health and fitness topics, you’re bound to find something you’ll enjoy no matter what your fitness level.