Exercise helps us stay in shape and maintain good levels of fitness. While I encourage exercise is more for the mind (and healthy habits) than the body, we want to see results with our efforts. Here are tips you can do to make sure that you get the most from every workout:
Fueling Your Body Correctly
A concerning number of people fail to eat or drink the right things before, during, or after their workouts. For some, a pre-workout meal or snack will aid in energy during your training session. For others, fasting might be the way to go. For me? It depends on the day and my sleep the night before. Pre-workout fuel can include (protein and carb) such as rice, root vegetables, oats, bananas, plus a hard-boiled egg, nut butter, lean jerky stick, etc. During your workout, try to drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. There are plenty of unnecessary energy drinks out there, but generally speaking, water is best. Perhaps add a pinch of sea salt and lemon if it’s incredibly hot out. After your workout, focus on foods that can help you to recover and build muscle. Meals should combine plenty of protein with moderate levels of carbohydrates.
Focusing During Your Workout
Firstly, move your body in ways you enjoy. Doing things half-heartedly isn’t going to give the results that you want and doing things without thinking about them properly can quickly and easily result in injury. During every workout, place your attention on the mind-muscle link. Pay attention to the areas you’re working on, how they’re feeling, if you’re pushing them enough or if you’re pushing them too hard.
Hire a Trainer
If you are having a hard time getting started or find yourself slacking, hiring a personal trainer might be a great solution. Not only will this push you to actually head to your workout, but someone will oversee your workout, pushing you to actually complete all of the different activities you’ve committed to doing and pushing you further each session.
These steps really are effective and can make all the difference!
