8 Simple and Effective Ways to Give Your Fitness Regime That Added Boost
When it comes to exercise, we can all benefit from a little (or a large) boost. You might be thinking that you’re doing everything you can to maximise your fitness results, but is that the truth? We’ve compiled 8 simple and effective tricks that anyone can implement, in order to give your fitness regime that much needed boost.
-
Get active every day
Don’t miss an opportunity to add movement to your day. Put your office bin walking distance away from your desk, walk up the escalator, take the stairs or try parking a little bit further away from the front door. Even the smallest steps can add to your fitness results.
-
Have a well-rounded workout program
In order to be the best athlete you can be, it’s crucial to involve a variety of exercises in your workouts. This is so your body can be utilised in as many different ways as possible, working all your muscles and joints. As well as this, your body will eventually adapt to regular exercises, so make sure you change them often to avoid having your training hit a wall. A great way to do this is by taking up new and unusual exercise regimes, such as joining your local soccer team, or taking up krav maga classes around Melbourne.
-
Fight fatigue with exercise
It has been proven time and time again that exercise increases energy levels and increases serotonin in the brain, which leads to improved mental clarity. When you get your heart pumping, even if it’s just via a brisk walk, your productivity increases. Timed just right, this can be far more effective than a nap or a cup of coffee at fighting fatigue.
-
Don’t be afraid to lift weights
It’s essential that you include some resistance training in every workout. Resistance training helps to build up lean muscle mass, which in turn aids the body in burning more calories, even when you aren’t exercising. Furthermore, it should be noted that it’s a myth that women ‘bulk up’ through weight training. Conversely, high reps with low weights can maximise strength without overbuilding your muscles.
-
Increase your protein intake
Protein is vital in the repair of exercise-induced damage to muscle fibres, as well as facilitating the replenishment of depleted energy. Ensure that you are eating lean meats and green, leafy vegetables to best increase muscle protein synthesis after exercise, which will in turn maximise your strength. A great way to give your fitness regime an extra boost is too try some sports supplements, take a look at supplements direct for some of the best on the market.
-
Avoid packaged foods
Because of the lack of nutrition in packaged foods, it has been proven that people who eat a diet of modern processed foods have increased levels of depression, anxiety, mood swings, hyperactivity, as well as a wide variety of other mental and emotional problems. On the other hand, exercise has been shown to produce hormones called endorphins, that counteract these effects. Thus, the ultimate combination for mental and physical health is to eat well and train hard.
-
Take time to recover
Although working out is important, it’s equally as vital to take some time out and allow your muscles to recover. Our body needs time to repair and grow, so why not indulge yourself in a soothing massage or long bath to improve circulation, blood flow and healing for those sore areas.
-
Do your cardio in the mornings
Intense cardiovascular exercise has a metabolic effect, meaning your body accelerates the energy you burn after these workouts. Try doing this kind of exercise in the morning, then eating smaller, protein-rich amounts of food to keep the metabolic fires burning. Not only will you get a mental kickstart to your day, but you’ll also get a physical one, too!
Don’t let your fitness goals get away from you! Ensure you are living a healthy and balanced lifestyle, centred around regular activity. Take a look at your life, and see if you can improve in any of these 8 areas. Your fitness will thank you for it.