If you’re trying to lose weight, you know it’s a grueling experience. You have to eat right, sleep right, and work out right.
However, no matter how committed you are, there will be a time when you plateau. It could be for a number of reasons, but the most likely reason is because of your workout. Having the proper workout is essential for losing weight and staying healthy.
If you’ve plateaued or if you’re just looking for a way to improve your workout, here are a few secrets to getting the best out of your workout.
1. Keep it Short
If you attend a gym, you’ve probably seen a gym rat. They’re those people who are there when you arrive and still going strong when you leave.
And for many, this makes sense. They feel that to get better results, they need to put in more time. But this is a myth. In fact, 30 to 40 minutes is the ideal time for a workout.
If you want better results, go harder, but for a shorter amount of time.
2. Push Yourself
Losing weight and staying fit depends on routine. You want to keep a schedule as much as possible, plan out your meals as best as you can, and have a strategy for when you go to the gym.
However, if you’re doing the same thing every time you go to the gym, you won’t be getting the results that you want.
To get the most out of your workout, you should up the intensity every couple of weeks. This will push you and keep you improving.
3. Do Full Body Workouts
It’s extremely popular today to hear people say they’re heading to the gym to work out a particular muscle. “Legs day!” “Working my biceps!”
It can be tempting to fall into this trend, but the truth is, if you want to get the best out of your 30-40 minute workout, you need to work out your whole body.
Instead of doing one muscle group a day, find a few workouts that get all your muscles working. Think exercises like squats, rows, or lunges.
4. Do Negative, Heavy Lifts
If you still feel like you want to work a few muscles individually, get the most out of your lifting by doing negative lifts.
Instead of lifting the weights slowly and then letting them drop, try lifting them quickly and then bringing them back down slowly. This will get your muscles burning in no time and you’ll see results faster.
If you want to get a little more out of your lifting, increase your weights. You might be nervous or unsure, but try.
As long as you have a good spotter, the heavier your weights, the better.
5. Do Uphill Cardio
Cardio is very important to getting fit, but if you aren’t careful cardio can become a hindrance.
If you’re not pushing yourself every time you do your cardio exercise of choice, then the workout isn’t doing you any good.
Instead of doing cardio on a flat track or with the treadmill normally, find hills or increase the slope of the treadmill.
Uphill cardio will having you burning calories and strengthening your body in a ways regular cardio isn’t capable of doing.
6. Drink Water
Working out will be useless if you’re dehydrated. One of the most overlooked part about having healthy workouts is drinking water.
Many prefer sports drinks, which have almost as much sugar as sodas and aren’t really that helpful.
Instead, stay hydrated with water. It will help flush out your system and help you feel better throughout the day.
If you want to add a little zest, drop a few lemons or berries to your water bottle for low-calorie flavor.
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