Despite what many diet programmes promise, you can’t improve your fitness and lose weight by swallowing a pill, mixing protein powder with your food or drinking a particular shake. To get fit faster, it is necessary to focus on eating cleanly as well as doing both cardio and strength-training exercises.
Tips to becoming fitter
Push yourself beyond your comfort zone
Focus on intensity if you want to get the most out of your workout. Perform quick, focused, HIIT-style exercises. Doing this will help you to get in shape faster than slower, more moderate workouts will.
If you aim to get the fastest possible results, the goal is to be exhausted by the end of your workout. If you’re not, then you’re not working to the best of your ability.
Concentrate on full-body exercises
If you incorporate full-body exercises – such as squats, burpees, push-ups and triceps dips – into your workouts, this will help you get fit in less time. This is as opposed to if you simply focus on isolation muscle exercises such as bicep curls and calf raises.
Full-body exercises are more functional. These exercises will help you more in real-life situations, such as lifting a suitcase over your head into the overhead stowage compartment on an aeroplane or playing with your child in the playground.
Here are some post-workout tips to help you get fitter faster:
Refuel
A healthy snack after you work out will top off your energy supply. It will also help you to renew the muscles in your body.
Rehydrate
Topping up your water is critical to optimising your recovery. Sip on a bottle of water after you work out, which will help your body’s cells. In addition, this action boosts circulation and brings your body temperature back to normal.
Massage
Roll foam rollers or massage balls slowly over your muscles. When you find a sore spot, hold it there for between 30 and 60 seconds.
Compress
Keeping compression socks, tights and sleeves on after your work out may be beneficial. Recent investigations suggest that putting on compression clothing after exercise and even while you sleep may help muscle recovery.
Ice
Ice has been used for many years in athletic recovery. The freezing temperatures narrow your blood vessels. This sends extra oxygen to your muscles when they warm up.
Do plenty of plyometric exercises
Plyometric exercises – such as long jumps, tuck jumps, jump lunges and sprints – as they will they help you become conditioned for whatever sports you enjoy in your downtime. In addition, they’ll help you burn fat and lose weight. They are a great practice to build into your workouts.
Set fitness goals
It’s much more motivating and satisfying – in the long run – to work toward an athletic or fitness goal. This is even if your ultimate aim is to lose weight.
If your goal is to do your first handstand, learn a new yoga pose or complete 100 burpees in a row, making a habit of setting and working towards athletic-focused goals regularly will only help you get fit quicker but it will also help you to make health and fitness a priority for life.
Can the excuses!
It doesn’t matter if you don’t have access to a gym, have no workout equipment at your disposal, or have less than 15 minutes to work out. Despite all of these challenges, it is still possible to get a good workout if you make the decision and set your mind to it. It will amaze you how quickly you begin getting in shape once you become consistent with your workouts.
Contact Trifocus Fitness Academy
Want to become a personal trainer and help other people get into shape? Trifocus Fitness Academy’s Personal Training Diploma is just the qualification to help you get there! Read more here.
