Whether you’re aiming for washboard abs, stronger muscles or simply to up your fitness levels. reaching your goals isn’t always easy. Sometimes life gets in the way, you don’t have the time and road bumps will occasionally pop up. But that doesn’t have to be the end of your journey. A survey by Myprotein says 32% of Americans fail to get fit because they don’t have a plan – and 24% lack time to make a workout plan. However, there are a number of simple tips and tricks you can incorporate into both new and established workout routines to keep you super active. Here’s how to maximize your fitness without being chained to the gym.
How to be more effective and efficient in the gym
Just because you have a busy lifestyle doesn’t mean you can’t fit in a great workout. Rather than plugging away for hours on the cross trainer, try a HIIT session instead.
Also known as high-intensity interval training, this type of exercise is all about short, sharp bursts of hard work, followed by a short rest. HIIT will get your blood pumping in no time and is a great way to boost your metabolism if you’re aiming to lose fat.
With so many possible elements to a HIIT session, you can pick and choose from a range of areas to work on. You can use it for sprints, squats, body weight training or just about any exercise. Once you start incorporating HIIT into your cardio routine, you’ll achieve the same (or better) results in considerably less time, saving valuable minutes to invest elsewhere.
How can I exercise without going to the gym?
Sometimes just getting to the gym can take up too much time and energy. Research shows that 27% of Americans don’t have the willpower to keep to a plan, so make the most of every minute and avoid losing motivation with a home workout. There are plenty of exercises you can perform from the comfort of your own home, making it easier to plan a session in to your daily routine.
You can use bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, press-ups and sit-ups without any equipment at all. If you want to challenge yourself and add some weights to your routine, simply fill up a couple of bottles of water or grab some cans of beans to hold as you work out. You can also use chairs or the couch to perform tricep dips, split squats and other exercises, helping you mix up your workout. Stay inspired and challenge yourself by testing out new exercises. After all, the privacy of home means there are no distractions and no other gym-goers to throw you off your game.
How do I start new exercises and workout techniques?
To stay motivated, you’ve got to mix up your training and that means incorporating new exercises into your plan. If you’re not sure how to get started, or are looking for more guidance, there are plenty of online resources to help you through exercises, step-by-step.
For example, if you wanted to get started on a yoga routine, yet don’t have time to head to a local class, you can still learn with a handy online yoga tutorial, like those on the Yoga with Adriene channel.
With all these online resources you can continue to improve and progress with your goals and create a varied and engaging plan.
Are apps and fitness trackers worth it?
If you’ve got your heart set on a fitness goal, then a tracker could be a game-changer. Keeping up-to-date on your progress is key to staying motivated, which is essential to hitting your personal targets. Without a fitness tracker you might notice you’re running for longer after every session – but you won’t know if you’re running faster. And if you really want to get stuck in to the detail, you can monitor your heart rate, too – which is a great way to track your HIIT performance.
If you work with a PT, you’d benefit from knowing all the details of sessions to track your performance. If you don’t have a trainer to set your goals, you might not know where improvements have been made or where you need to work and you may struggle to achieve your fitness dreams. With a fitness tracker, you can add more intel to your PT sessions. Alternatively, a tracker can be a great gadget for staying motivated and inspired hit your fitness goals for the year ahead.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
