Guest post by Zoe Price
More and more of us are incorporating workout routines and training schedules into our daily lives. Staying fit and healthy is absolutely vital, it promotes clean living and positive mental health.
However, when working out ourselves or with friends, it can be easy to slip into bad habits for the sake of comfort or convenience. This can lead to following workout routines than are less beneficial than they could be, or in extreme cases, actively harmful. To help you avoid this, we’ve put together a guide with some tips for making the most out of your fitness routine. Check it out below.
Get Expert Advice
One of the most effective ways to maximise your workout routine is to seek expert advice and training. Training truly is a science, to see the best results you need to know how the body works and how it responds to physical activity and diet.
Why not check out Study Active, they offer a number of courses for personal fitness and training. Their Level 3 Diploma in Gym Instructing and Personal Training will give you all the knowledge you need to improve your workout routine, while it also gives you the required certification to train others should you want to.
Drink Plenty Of Water
Water has numerous benefits for our bodies. It helps our organs function and, importantly, is vital for increasing our energy levels and boosting our ability to perform physically. Dehydration, which can occur when we are exercising, can cause fatigue, loss of concentration, reduced coordination.
Our bodies need time to properly absorb water, so chugging a bottle right before a workout isn’t going to cut. Drinking water regularly throughout the day is the best way to ensure we stay properly hydrated.
Eat Properly
Food gives us the energy we need to go about our day, work, and exercise. However, not all foods are the same, some are far better for us and more suited to giving us the energy we need to train and workout.
Go for slowly digesting carbohydrates like oatmeal or wheats before your workouts. These will slowly release energy over time and keep you going for longer. Research has suggested that athletes who eat slow-digesting carbs in the morning burn more fat throughout the day.
Avoid eating foods that are high in fats before your workout. These can reduce blood low to the muscles and make working out more physically demanding and uncomfortable.
Listen To Music
This might seem like a bit of a curveball, but music has been well documented as the perfect accompaniment to a workout session. Music can work to distract us from fatigue and discomfort while improving our mood and emotional state through boosting the dopamine neurotransmitter.
Listening to music can be one of the most simple and effective ways to maximise your workout routine. It will motivate you to push yourself that little bit further and can increase our stamina and endurance.
Do What You Enjoy
Exercise doesn’t need to be a chore. Nothing will discourage you faster than having to force yourself to do something you hate. If you don’t like something like running, for example, simply try out something else. Swimming or cycling are both perfectly acceptable alternatives. Keeping yourself motivated is key to getting the most out of your workout routine, do this by picking an activity that makes you happy.
Conclusion
It can be easy to think that once you start working out, that’s it. In fact, you need to be constantly reviewing your workout programme and your approach to exercise. Bad habits can be picked up before you even realise, staying on top of them is key to getting the best out of your workouts.
