Best Ways to Get the Most From Your Workouts

August 28, 2006 by erin.

The first step to improving your health is making time to exercise. But just going through the motions or repeating the same routine every time will not give you the results you are looking for and will likely get boring. Repeating a workout over and over won’t give you results because you are always stimulating the same muscle fibers in the same order. Changing things up, even if it’s just the order of your exercises, can produce amazing results. Here are nine ways to get the most out of your efforts.1. Hire a personal trainer. Working with a trainer will allow you to focus all your efforts, totally, on a particular exercise. The trainer worries about your routine and form. It’s the trainer’s job to make sure your workouts are always fresh and always challenging; pushing you to a higher level of fitness.

2. Change the mode or intensity of your training. Changing your routine will prevent you from hitting a plateau because by introducing new movements and intensity levels you will be recruiting different muscle fibers in a different order than what your body has adapted to.

3. Practice good nutrition habits and stay hydrated. without the proper fuel there is no way you can get a good workout. Your body needs nutrients and fluid to build muscle and repair itself after a workout. Improper nutrition will only lead to burn out and overtraining syndrome.

4. Focus on the QUALITY of your workouts, not the quantity. It may seem that working out more frequently with lengthy sessions is the best way to get fit, but a more intense workout performed less frequently will produce greater results in less time. Your body needs time to repair itself after a hard workout. When given enough time to recover, your body will gain strength and endurance; however, if you keep tearing it down with extensive training, it will become weaker and tired and you will be at a high risk for overtraining syndrome.

5. Breathe. Your body cannot function without oxygen, so don’t hold your breath when exerting yourself. You are only robbing your body of an essential element which will cause inefficient muscle contractions. Take deep, full breaths during exercise, exhaling upon exertion.

6. Exercise at the right time. Workout when your body’s natural energy level is at its highest. You will get a better workout than if you wait until you might not feel your best. If you are a morning person… get a morning workout, it will take you through the day. If you are a night owl… get your workout after work to expend that last bit of Energy and get a good night’s rest.

7. Workout with a partner. A workout partner is a good source of accountability and can inspire you to push a little harder. Plus, sometimes you just need a spot to complete that last rep that you would otherwise have to skip.

8. Use a heart-rate monitor. This is a great tool to gauge how hard you are working. Consult with a trainer to determine your target heart-rate and use the monitor to make sure you stay within your target range.

9. Listen to music. Music can make the workout more enjoyable and give you that extra energy boost when you need to work your hardest.

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