Getting yourself fit and healthy is a challenge in itself, but for many it is keeping themselves there that really tests them and really becomes the main challenge. Despite what some people may have you believe, getting fit and healthy is certainly not an issue task, and it is not something that happens over a matter of days, even weeks for that matter. Getting fit and healthy is about so much more than simply running on a treadmill and curling a set of dumbbells. It is a way of life and requires 100% commitment and dedication in order to see optimal results. There will be testing times and there will be days when you’re ready to call it quits but failure is not an option if you’re serious about looking great, feeling great, and hopefully prolonging your life in the process. Working out and exercising is a constant learning process as we’re constantly learning new things. If you’re looking to get fitter and healthier, here are some workout secrets that have come directly from the pros themselves.
Always be consistent
Consistency is one of the many keys to success, especially when it comes to working out and exercising. That means that if you are serious about getting fitter and healthier, you will need to ensure that you’re being consistent with your workouts. You can’t take a “wait and see” attitude when it comes to working out, otherwise you won’t see results. You need to set aside however many days you plan on exercising each week, which should be a minimum of 3 days, and no matter what, on those days always force yourself into the gym and don’t stop until you’ve achieved what you set out to do. If Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are your workout days, ensure you workout on those days no matter what.
Find a program that works for you
Thanks to the internet, finding a workout program online has never been easier, but one problem that many people tend to make is following a program that basically does not work for them. Remember, each person is unique and so naturally some people will respond better to certain training methods than others. If you’re following a high-rep, low weight resistance program for example, but are not seeing the results you were expecting, try adopting a heavier weight, lower rep program and see how your body responds to that. If you find yourself burning more fat via HIIT cardio than steady state cardio, stick with HIIT. Remember, just because one program works for one person, this doesn’t mean it will automatically work for you.
Always aim to progress
The more exercise you perform, the fitter and stronger you will become and so naturally you should always be aiming for progression. Running 1 mile on a treadmill when you first started out may have been an accomplishment to begin with, but several months, even weeks on, you should now be covering more distance as your fitness and endurance will have increased. When performing cardio, always aim to beat your previous time or distance with each workout. With weight training, again, always beat your previous workout, whether that means using a slightly heavier weight, or performing one or two reps it doesn’t matter, you should always beat your previous best as that is what progress is all about.
Ensure your plan fits your life
To make the progress you need to be making, you will need to exercise regularly, every single week. Again, don’t just try to get a workout in where you can, instead fit your workout plan around your everyday life. If you work late on Wednesdays for example, it’s no good trying to fit a workout in after finishing work late. If Thursday nights are free, pencil in your workouts for Thursday nights. If you are struggling for time, why not workout at home with a few bodyweight circuits instead? You can go jogging in the evening, workout at home, or even get your workouts in over the weekends if you happen to be off work. It may require some planning, but you can always create a workout program that fits in with your life, you just need to set a little time aside to get things done.
Monitor your energy levels
If you have the time to work out in a morning, or in the evening, in order to get the most out of your workouts, monitor your energy levels and see how you respond to training at various times. If you just cannot get energized or motivated in a morning, even after a cup of black coffee, you may be better waiting until later on as that will make your workout far more productive and effective. If you respond well to training early in the morning, then that’s great as you can exercise and shower, then have the rest of the day to do as you please.
