20 Must-Do Tips to Make Any Workout Routine Better 1. Make it intense: Whatever your workout, bump up its intensity at least once a week. Add intervals to your cycling routine, maximize strength training by doing supersets, or couple a yoga class with a run. Doing so helps you burn more calories in less time, builds endurance, and can also help boost metabolism. 2. Take your runs outdoors: Stepping away from the treadmill will not only add a new type of scenery to your running routine, but also challenge your body to work harder — say hello to a new, toned butt! 3. Fuel properly: Getting through a workout sometimes comes down to something as simple as eating the right food. An hour or two before exercising, eat a snack of complex carbs with a little bit of protein. 4. Go shopping: Youve made a commitment to fitness, so you deserve the right wardrobe to go along with your new lifestyle! 5. Never skip the warm-up (or cooldown): To avoid injury and lessen muscle soreness, its important to take care of your body before and after workout. Before launching into the full intensity of any workout, do five minutes of light cardio, and once its over, make sure to cool down with some stretching. 6. Prep your gym bag: Keep excuses to a minimum by always having a gym bag prepped and ready to go. Pack it the night before to grab on your way out, or stash it in your car or under your desk at work. 7. Incorporate watercress into your diet: Exercise can put stress on the body, but watercress has been shown to combat its effects. 8. Get your Zs: Its hard to tackle a one-hour bootcamp class on four hours of sleep. 9. .Practice good form: Good form is a must when exercising, so be sure to check yourself often. Two key areas: the shoulders and core. Make sure to not round your shoulders and back while exercising, and to keep your core engaged. This will help stabilize the body and protect it from injury. 10. Make a schedule: Before your schedule becomes overrun with social engagements, make a point to schedule in workouts. Block off time for your favorite classes, a fitness date with a friend, and that weekend run you keep putting off. Most importantly — dont cancel on yourself! 11. Get off the phone: Dont distract yourself on the elliptical by gabbing on your phone or with your workout buddy. It takes the focus away from your workout and is also distracting to the people around you. 12. Take a yoga class: Its so easy to get caught up in gym culture that you skip a solid stretch. Yoga is a complementary workout to running, cycling, and most other activities, and is a helpful way to challenge the bodys core and balance. 13. Hydrate: Before, during, and after your workout, drink plenty of water. Proper hydration keeps the body functioning properly, warding off fatigue and helping to prevent muscle soreness. 14. Make a new playlist: Theres nothing like heart-pumping music to motivate you through a workout, and no matter what your taste. 15. Join a posse: For some friendly competition, or extra motivation, schedule a few workouts with friends. Its a great way to try out a new class or work toward a goal together. 16. Eat some dark chocolate: Go ahead and indulge in a square of quality dark chocolate. A recent study showed that individuals who ate a little dark chocolate before a workout performed better. 17. Work out in the morning: While theres rarely a bad time to exercise, working out in the morning has been shown to burn more calories. 18. Schedule a session with one of our trainers:. Even if you only commit to one session, its a great way to check your form, learn the basics, and develop a workout plan. 19. A little is better than nothing at all: No matter how busy you are, carve out a little time get up and move. 20. Sign up for a race: For some extra motivation and a new challenge, sign up for a race. Committing to something in the future will force you to train, and just think about how satisfied youll feel when you cross that finish line.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 04:54:40 +0000
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