Having the motivation to go to the gym is one thing, but finding the drive to change up the way you exercise, or perfect your routine is another thing entirely. Getting to a stage where you’re working out was likely already a challenge and you’re probably now comfortably set in your ways. However, the chances are, you’ve realised you’re reaching a plateau in your progress, or you might feel as though your dedication and focus is slipping. We’ve listed our best ways to help you improve your workout regimen that you can employ to help you achieve whichever goal you’ve set.
Ditch The Machines
A common suggestion among personal trainers is to take your focus away from machine workouts. While these are still very useful for working on specific muscles in one exercise, the controlled environment in which these exercises are undertaken isn’t natural. Instead, try utilising the workouts provided by free weights, as these exercises are far more natural. Lifting weights replicates the movements that we use in everyday life, and so strengthen the muscles that we truly need. Machines aren’t entirely unnecessary though. When you’re getting tired but need to keep going to finish your routine, switching to a machine can help you power through, when you can no longer lift the free weights.
Stay Hydrated
This should go without saying, but there are countless times in which people forget to drink enough water during and after a workout. When we exercise, we sweat. This perspiration is the expulsion of water through your skin’s pores which is your body’s way of keeping you cool as it heats up when burning energy. Due to this, it’s imperative that you are drinking plenty of water to replenish this liquid, which not only negates the risk of heat stress, but it also helps you to focus and workout better, as your performance is also reliant on your brain and muscles retaining a good amount of water.
Wear The Right Gear
The proper clothing for your exercises is also very important for maintaining peak performance. You’ll want to consider two different things here. What is the temperature like, and which exercises will you be doing? If you’re working out in the middle of winter and outside, you’ll want to be wearing something warm and comfortable. While you may be warming up during these exercises, this will only go so far before you start succumbing to the negative effects of the cold. A tracksuit in this case is a great idea, and you can find countless different tracksuits for men all offering different levels of comfort and warmth. Similarly, loose fitting clothes like this are great for exercises that require a good range of motion like Pilates and yoga. If, however it’s a warm day or gym, light, loose-fitting clothes will help to prevent you from overheating.
Dynamic Warmups
We all know that it’s important to stretch your muscles before a workout to avoid injury and lessen soreness after your session. However, it’s now widely accepted that there is a much better way to prevent these issues than bending and holding a muscle for a short period if time. Now, many people are utilising something called dynamic warmups instead of stretching. For example, if you’re going to be lifting weights, you might want to start off with some push-ups, or if you’re planning to do some running on the treadmill, get a few sets of squats or lunges in beforehand. This helps to activate your muscles and loosen them up before taking on your main exercises.
Eat The Right Stuff
Another important part of workout preparation is eating the correct foods. So many people forget to eat energy-rich foods before exercising, and instead focus solely of loading up on protein afterwards. While this is an important part to building and strengthening your muscles, if you don’t have the energy from carbohydrates, you’re not going to be able to push yourself as much during the routine.
Sleep Well
Furthermore, if you don’t get enough sleep as well, you’re going to be limiting your body’s ability to repair and build up your muscles. During sleep, our body goes into repair mode, using nutrients gained from our diets to improve our physique. This is actually where most of our muscle building takes place and so shouldn’t be neglected. If you have broken sleep, or not enough, your body won’t be able to do its work properly overnight.
Listen To Music
Maintaining your focus is so important when it comes to working out. Without having something to keep you motivated, you’re much more likely to wrap up and throw in the towel. Having a good distraction like your favourite music playlists or even a podcast if you prefer, is a great way to distract yourself from the stress and struggle of a particularly difficult workout regimen. Of course, try to remain conscious of those around you and your environment as taking your attention away from these things can cause accidents if you’re not careful.