5 Ways to Improve Your Workout

It’s not all about the hours you put in at the gym. Eating well, maximising your time at the gym and investing in a gadget or two can make all the difference to you getting the figure of your dreams.

1. Exercise at the right time for your body. It’s important to work with your body's natural energy level and not against it. Schedule your workout for when you feel most energetic, rather than relying solely on willpower to get you there at a time when you might not feel your best.
2. Eat properly and stay hydrated. Without good nutrition and adequate fluid intake, maintaining good quality workouts will prove difficult and your body needs optimum fuel to build muscle, repair damaged tissue and stay well hydrated. It’s not about being abstemious 24/7 but eating good quality carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats, and avoiding too many empty calorie snacks is important for staying fit and achieving your desired shape.
3. Opt for quality over quantity. Don’t automatically choose more frequent gym workouts over high intensity ones – a good balance is often the best way.
4. Look at your breathing. When you’re training with weights, take deep breaths throughout and aim to exhale on the exertion (tough) phase of the exercise and inhale as you release, or do the easy bit. When you’re working on your aerobic exercise such as swimming, running and cycling, taking full breaths will deliver as much oxygen as possible to the working muscles and make them more efficient.
5. Try using a heart rate monitor. Strapping a heart rate monitor to you is a great way to assess how hard you’re really working. You can calculate your training zones to fine tune your workouts so that you’re training in the correct way to meet your goals.

Article by Diet and Fitness Expert Laura Williams

Image from Flickr, Uploaded by adria.richards

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