Break out and discover newfound zest for your exercise routine
These handy tricks will help you break through a plateau, train better or get out of that workout funk.
Pump your tunes
Blasting your music can have a powerful effect on your workout. The right tunes can help improve energy efficiency and get you through the toughest moments of your fitness routine. Research has also indicated that music of a certain tempo (believed to be 125 to 140 beats per minute) may boost motivation and reduce the feeling of how hard you’ve exerted yourself. This then allows you to mentally and physically strive for harder.
Grab a workout buddy
Working out with someone else, whether a friend, family member or your significant other, can help your workouts in more ways than one. It’s great for getting you to squeeze in that workout, have fun while doing it, keep you accountable and can also inspire you to work harder.
The secret? Choose a workout buddy that you see as fitter than you and research suggests it could increase how long and hard you workout by up to a huge 200 per cent!
Use fitness apps & trackers
Engaging technology is a great way to get out of that workout rut. There are plenty of fitness apps available that do everything from take you through a yoga class, track your reps and sets at the gym, or match music to your heart rate. Here are 6 fitness apps that FIT loves.
Fitness trackers that you wear on your wrist are fantastic for keeping you accountable and keeping a record of your progress, patterns and overall health. If you’re looking to purchase one, check out FIT’s pick of 4 of the best.
Mobilise & rest your body
We often put our bodies through more than they can comfortably handle. With the stresses of everyday life and the physical impact of training, it’s easy to overdo it. If you don’t mobilise your muscles and take active rest days, it can result in strains and poor recover. This means your muscles will not be functioning together optimally, hindering your workouts and making injury more likely.
To improve your mobility and range of motion during your workout, try incorporating foam rolling into your fitness regime and make sure you stretch before and after your workouts.
Enlist a trainer
There are times when you simply need some help with getting motivated, showing up to your workouts and improving your exercise repertoire. The solution can often be to get yourself professional help. Studies have shown that having a personal trainer supervise a workout means you’ll try harder, have a more intense session and reap better results.
Get more sleep
Maximising your snooze time means you’ll have more energy and stamina for a good workout. Aim to get 7-8 hours of quality sleep every night. If you need some help, a sleep support supplement may be for you.