So you’ve got yourself your choice of workout, an exercise schedule, maybe an LA Fitness membership (it’s not that expensive), and the determination to get in shape. You’re really sweating it out at the gym but why does it feel like you’re not getting the results you’re expecting to get?
Before you get disheartened and opt out of exercising in its entirety, pause and take a minute to read this. There might be a few things that your fitness regimen doesn’t have. Almost everything you do contributes to your health goals so it’s best to evaluate every little thing that you do and don’t do to find out what’s missing.
Usually, they all boil down to these six things:
Sleep
With most folks living fast-paced and busy lifestyles, it’s an easy decision for some folks to sacrifice their sleep for something else. In many cases, an extra hour or two is swapped out for an hour or two at the gym or outside for some exercise. While this sounds like a fair trade, it’s really not the case.
What a lot of people don’t understand is that sleep and exercise have a mutually beneficial relationship. Exercise can help improve sleep as it gets the body working the way it should be while sleep energizes you to perform your exercises better. Sleep is also crucial for those who workout as it heals the body and repairs the damages you’ve incurred from your physical activity.
So if you’re feeling too sluggish and not seeing improvements from your efforts, take a look at your sleep hygiene. If it doesn’t look too good, that can explain why sweating is not enough for you to achieve your desired results.
The right diet
No matter what your fitness goals are, combining the right diet for your kind of exercise is necessary. As your diet fuels your body, it should just match your physical activities if you want to get the best results.
The right diet consists not just of the right calorie count but also of the right nutrients. For example, those who want to build muscles should go for protein-packed meals. Those who want to lose weight should avoid carbohydrates and stick with foods that are low in calories.
You should then combine these diets with the right kinds of exercises to achieve your desired results. So if you want to bulk up, your protein-rich diet should go with muscle-building activities. If you want to shed pounds, you should do effective fat and calorie burning exercises while noshing on low-cal meals.
Variety
Did you know that your body gets used to physical activities in as little as six to eight weeks? Because of this, doing the same kinds of workout repeatedly can result in a fitness plateau which can then prevent you from achieving the results you want.
This is why variety is required if you really want to make the most of your physical efforts to get in better shape. You should make sure that your body is always challenged when you exercise so you can be sure that you’re really getting the workout you need.
A time limit
Lots of people think that the longer they stay at the gym or wherever they may be conducting their choice of workout, the better results they’ll get. This isn’t true. There’s this concept in economics known as the law of diminishing returns that perfectly explains why you don’t need to spend hours lifting weights or running.
According to experts, when your muscles start to get tired, you stop making progress. So if you push further when you’re already fatigued, you won’t really get anything more from your workout.
Because of this, it’s more ideal to limit your time according to your workout. Experts say that 30 minutes is already enough for lifting weights. An average gym session, on the other hand, should only run for about 45-60 minutes.
Cardio
Cardio is the most basic exercise there is but it’s also one of the most hated because it is the most basic kind of workout out there. If you’ve been influenced to have a prejudice against cardio, start working out on changing your perspective on this exercise because it’s essential.
No matter what your fitness goals are, trying to increase your heart rate through exercise is always beneficial for you. It’s good for your heart, lungs, and cholesterol levels.
A cool down period
Experts always emphasize that it’s crucial to cool down after a workout. Unfortunately, not everyone listens to this important piece of advice. Not only will it minimize muscle soreness but it can also prep you for your next workout session. So make sure to include a light jog or brisk walking at the end of your visit to the gym.
