You will find that there are many ways in which you can boost your workout routine away from doing the actual exercise itself. From steps beforehand, during, and after, this article will go over some little changes that could make the world of difference.
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1. Improve Your Warmup
Your warmup is arguably one of the most important elements of working out. If you get this wrong, you could strain yourself or even cause an injury. You could stretch, or you could swap out simple stretches for a more dynamic warmup. Consider what your body is capable of, and ensure you don’t push yourself too hard.
During the warmup stage, consider watching an online video that goes over the steps with you, so that you have a better idea of what you’re doing. Some people choose to listen to music at the same time, to relax their mind and allow themselves to focus. Remember that everyone will have a different approach to warming up, so you may have to experiment to find what works for you.
2. Hydrate Yourself At All Time
It may seem obvious to say in some ways, and even more obvious if you have ever worked out at a high level before but its importance cannot be understated. You need to hydrate when you work out. This is because you will sweat out a lot of liquid during a workout, which you will need to replenish both during and after.
Some people even drink chocolate milk post-workout as it has a good amount of carbs and protein inside. The protein helps to stimulate muscle repair, with the carbohydrates helping to restore your energy stores and boost muscle growth with protein. Chocolate milk may be a viable option after any high-intensity or long-duration workouts.
For a similar reason, you will need to ensure you drink enough fluids before a workout too. This could come in the form of plain water or a specialized beverage. Be wary of some beverages, as they may not be matched well to your workout routine.
What you should do, is find a product that helps to combat dehydration and replenish electrolytes at the same time. DripDrop’s guide to the best way to replenish electrolytes could help inspire you for your next workout routine, and hydrate yourself in the right way.
3. Utilize Intervals
You need to get the balance right when working out. Some people will just show up to a gym and work out at the same machine until they’re exhausted, whereas they should carefully plan what they’re doing during the routine. This is why you should engage with something known as intervals, which requires you to work out to minute-per-minute high-intensity intervals.
The purpose of this is to partner your workouts with short-minute long breaks that offer low-intensity when needed. Taking your time to stagnate these workouts will benefit you and prevent you from tiring out sooner.
4. Improve Sleeping Habits
Consider how much sleep you are currently getting. If you are falling asleep in the early morning and waking up groggy, then you could be in trouble. Being fatigued and having a lack of energy can ruin your mornings and even your entire day. This is why you should be working to improve your current sleeping habits.
You can do this by getting a healthy amount of sleep, which can lead you to be less fatigued when needed. Try to work out how much sleep you need to function, this will usually be done by listening to your body clock. Your body clock will refer to when your body is tired enough naturally to sleep without you forcing it or not being able to at all. Sleeping better will put you in the best position to work out, as you feel more energized for the day and therefore more up for it.
5. Enjoy A Massage
Whilst indulging in a massage can feel good, it can do more for you. It could influence the genes in your muscle cells to combat inflammation and aid in your recovery. Remember that muscles don’t get fitter during your workout, that happens between the workouts as they recover.
It’s why sports stars and athletes often have a post-match massage, as it can aid them in their recovery and put them in a better position for next time. It’s also been argued that an ice bath, or a very cold shower, can do the same sort of thing.
6. Bring A Friend
You may be able to boost your workout routine by bringing along a friend. It’s what leads some gym-goers to make connections with the people around them at the gym so that they can support each other. A gym buddy can help motivate you to push on when you’re lacking, and vice versa, leading to harder and longer sessions.
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