By Missi Balison
I’ve got a list of five ways you can boost the results from your workouts … STARTING TODAY! And by “results,” I mean noticeable changes in your stamina, strength, energy, and overall fitness.
Before I get into the tips, I want you to remember one thing that will help drive all of those results: YOU ARE AN ATHLETE in training, no matter how young or old you are, or your current fitness or activity level. You are training for your BEST LIFE. Having a fit, strong and healthy body that can help you make the MOST of every single day is something worth fighting for!
Five Ways to Boost Your Workout Results:
TIP 1: Set your priorities. In other words, get excited about a goal! Want to be able to do 10 pushups or pullups? Run 3 miles without stopping? Add distance to your golf drive? As adults, we often write off those goals as silly or frivolous. They aren’t! They can add a fun factor to your routine (and also a clear purpose).
TIP 2: Have a plan. Now that you have a priority, create an intentional workout program—and make sure to include the RIGHT kinds of exercises to hit your goals. Example: If you want to be able to do 10 pushups, running three days a week won’t help you with that. But building your strength (especially core and upper body) will.
TIP 3: Periodize for progress. This is related to creating a plan … it’s making sure your routine grows and changes as you get fitter. Trainers call this “periodization.” If you always do the same exercises the same way, eventually you’ll plateau. Your workouts should challenge you just enough to move you closer to your goals, but not so much that you feel drained, overly sore, or get injured.
TIP 4: Eat to support your goal. First, make sure you’re eating a high-quality diet, filled with nutrient-dense food in the right portions for your activity level. Then come up with a snack strategy to refuel right after your workout. Aim for a carb-protein mini-meal to give your muscles a jumpstart on recovery.
(For more specifics, grab a copy of my latest ebook, The Ultimate Post-Workout & Recovery Guide. Download it here <<)
TIP 5: Reset, recover and rest. Your workouts create stress in your body (good stress, but it’s still stress). That’s why it’s so important to give yourself time to reset, recover and rest afterward. Not only will it help you get the best results from the workout you just did, but it helps your body get ready for your NEXT workout. On a practical level, this means taking 24 to 48 hours between workouts to let your muscles repair and rebuild. It also means getting seven to nine hours of quality sleep every night so your body can restore your immune function, balance your hormones, and remove waste.
So there you have it! These five tips will help you take your workouts to the NEXT LEVEL and help you hit your goals faster. Missi Balison, owner of Missi Balison Fitness in Sandpoint, Idaho, is a personal trainer, exercise physiologist and Certified Precision Nutrition coach.