Here's a quick list of 7 simple things you can do to make sure you get the most out of your workouts.
Set your workout gear out the night before. If you workout in the mornings, it can be hard enough to get yourself started without having to search for things before you can even get out the door. Organize whatever you'll need for the workout (e.g. clothes, shoes, and stuff like wrist wraps or a jump rope) and get it prepared the night before.
Have a plan. Your time is valuable, right? Don't waste it by waiting until you get to the gym to decide what you're going to do. Hopefully you have a program that'll give you a plan for at least a few weeks' worth of workouts at a time. Take a quick glance at the plan for that session so you know what's in store.
Put in the effort. It should go without saying, but you can't get more out of strength training than you put in. Just going through the motions is another waste of your time. The idea isn't just to say, "I worked out for an hour today", it's to know that you put in work that's going to get you stronger. Your warm up sets aren't supposed to be physically taxing, but they're a great opportunity to make sure that your technique is on point. Concentrate on using the proper form here. For your work sets, push yourself. They're meant to be challenging and yes, perhaps a little bit uncomfortable. Uncomfortable in the sense that they require a significant effort, not in the sense that you feel discomfort in joints.
Warm up. Before you even reach for a weight, make sure you're body is ready to go. A proper warm up doesn't have to be more than a few minutes. Start with something to gradually raise your body temperature. Walking, jogging, rowing, using the elliptical machine, or jumping rope are a few examples. You don't want to be tired, but you want to start to break a sweat. Then simple, easy movements to get your body moving (e.g. arm circles, trunk twists, bodyweight squats, etc.) in a way that somewhat mimics the movements of the lifts you plan on for the session.
Don't do a ton of exercises. You don't have to do a ton of exercises in order to have a great workout. The point of working out is to give your muscles the necessary stimuli to grow stronger. It's not to try out every piece of equipment in the gym. Pick one or two main lifts. These are going to be compound lifts that use the body's larger muscles (such as variations of squats, deadlifts, chin-ups, rows and presses). Because you're working the larger muscles together, you can use heavier resistance which will drive greater strength. Three to five working sets is plenty. In the subsequent weeks of training, aim to get stronger at these exercise. After doing the main lift you can add in some accessory lifts. Most people won't need more than 2-3 accessory lifts per session. Here's where you can do isolation lifts to target one specific muscle group at a time. Two to three sets for each is sufficient.
Drink plenty of water. Muscles are comprised of a lot of water (just like the rest of you). Staying hydrated during your workouts will keep your muscles primed to execute the demands you put on them in the gym.
Be considerate. I know you have your earbuds in blasting your favorite workout music, tuning out the world. But there are still other people in the gym with you trying to work out. Don't hog several machines/pieces of equipment. Your favorite muscle magazine may tell you giant sets of bench press, pull-ups, and decline sit-ups is the surest path to look like [insert your favorite celebrity], but it's rude to hog all the space and equipment all to yourself. Similarly, when you grab a set of dumbbells from the rack, I know you're oh so close to the mirror, but take a couple steps back.You don't want to be in anybody else's way and yes, you'll still be able to see yourself in the mirror. A little bit of consideration goes a long way.
If you follow these steps, I guarantee you'll have a better workout.
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