With the autumn season now upon us, this is as good a time as any to makeover your workout routine and take advantage of the endless list of benefits associated with regular exercise – with boosting your immune system, mood and mental clarity being just some that are most relevant to this time of year.
While finding the motivation to get your trainers on in the first place can be the hardest part for many of us, maybe you are putting in the effort but are frustrated with your progress so far. If you aren’t getting the results you had hoped for in the gym, there are a number of things you can do in an attempt to increase the effectiveness of your good intentions and efforts.
1. Make sure you’re carrying out exercises properly
One major reason why a lot of people struggle in the gym is that aren’t exercising correctly. If you don’t adopt the correct form while exercising, not only can this make your workout ineffective, but you can also put yourself at risk of injury.
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind at your next gym or home workout session:
- Cold muscles are more susceptible to injury, so don’t neglect to warm up before any strength training or strenuous exercise.
- Rest between sets for about a minute to a minute and a half before attempting the next one, so that your muscles have a chance to recover. Never sacrifice form for heavier weights.
- Work on and engage your core muscles to protect your back from injury.
- Remember to breathe properly throughout your workout. Resist the urge to hold your breath and focus on breathing out when doing the harder part to fuel the effort, and breathing in at the easier part of the move.
- Rest 48 hours between strength training workouts if you are sore, to give your muscles a chance to repair.
There are plenty of guides online that take you through proven squat techniques and other essential moves, so make the most of these.
2. Consider pre-gym supplements to enhance performance
You may have heard the saying: ‘training will only get you so far’. To achieve optimum results from your workouts, there are lots of other factors that come into it, such as diet and nutrition. It’s a fact that what you nourish your body with is absolutely essential to fitness, strength, performance, weight management and overall health and wellbeing. For example, adequate protein intake is crucial when exercising to assist your muscles in their post-workout recovery and growth.
There are many kinds of gym supplements on the market these days, and pre-workout supplements are extremely popular amongst athletes, bodybuilders and fitness-conscious people in general. For those who take part in strength training, pre-gym supplements can provide your body and mind with the additional support it requires to make it through weekly sessions, which can be mentally and physically tiring. Not only that, the right supplements can also help you to push your body harder during your workout sessions, leading to better results.
Not all athletes are concerned mainly with power, however, and both anaerobically trained and aerobically trained athletes frequently use pre-gym supplements because they deliver an efficient way of boosting overall performance. There are many great supplements to select from, with the following being a mere handful of examples – CNP Professional Pro Slam, Adapt Nutrition Pre-Train, Grenade 50 Calibre, Arnold Series Iron Pump, and Animal Rage XL. However, regardless of the diversity on the market, the main active ingredient in all of these supplements is usually caffeine.
This is because caffeine, when utilised correctly, is proven to exert positive results when it comes to both endurance and strength associated activity, which is why caffeine is the go-to component in pre-workout supplements for many.
3. Hire a personal trainer
If you’re really struggling to achieve the goals you have set yourself and you have the means to do so, it might be time to hire a personal trainer. A personal trainer will enable you to determine where you are going wrong with your workouts so that you can make the changes that are needed to move forward with your progress. He or she can help you devise a realistic fitness program that is customised to your specific requirements and contains exercises that you enjoy.
On top of that, a personal trainer will keep you motivated and hold you accountable, helping you keep on track to achieving and maintaining your fitness goals. They can also make sure you’re keeping good form in your workouts. Skipping the gym but still want to keep fit? Virtual online trainers are also a great option in today’s world for those of us who want the benefits of hiring a personal trainer but would rather get fit in the comfort of our own homes.
So there you have it: three things to consider if you’ve been struggling to reach your goals in the gym. Try out some or all of the tips in this article and we’re sure you’ll notice a positive difference.
©FM
