As much as you want to prioritize your health and fitness goals, finding long-term motivation can be challenging if you’re not getting visible results. To see faster results from your workouts, you first have to identify what’s holding you back. Are you not training hard enough? Have you failed to optimize your diet based on the level of sustained effort? Whether you are not getting the results you’ve been expecting or no results at all, it’s time for some changes.
Read on to learn how to get faster results from your workouts.
Boost Your Energy Before Workouts
To get significant results in the gym, you need to challenge yourself by gradually increasing the intensity of your routine. However, to be able to do so, you need increased energy and focus. If you go to the gym with your energy depleted, you will not push yourself as much as you should. Moreover, you might feel tempted to skip exercises or rush through your routine. Boosting your energy before your workouts will help you achieve peak performance in the gym. Thus, you will supercharge your fitness progress. An effective way to increase your energy levels quickly is to eat a healthy meal or snack. The most common pre-workout meal is chicken with rice and vegetables. For a quick snack, consider the following options: granola bars, bananas, oatmeal, fruit smoothies, peanut butter, or chocolate milk. If you feel the need for an extra energy boost, test these free workout supplements. Remember that how you fuel your workouts matters a lot in getting the best results.
Train With a Friend
Another powerful way to get faster results in the gym is to train with a friend. Training with another person will make your workouts more entertaining. Plus, you will hold each other accountable, which can be incredibly helpful if you struggle with motivation. You may tend to work harder in the gym if a friend provides you with encouragement and advice. If you have a competitive streak, training with a friend can benefit you greatly. Competition is a strong motivator, as long as both you and your friend have a healthy approach to it. Various studies show that when we’re engaged in a challenge, we are more likely to take those much-needed extra steps. Competitive groups and relationships promote thus faster progress in the gym and in any other environment where people need to accomplish measurable goals. So, find a fit friend who can raise the bar for you. Or sign up for a group fitness class. Your competitive streak will start showing, and you will surpass your expectations.
Focus On Training Intensity Instead of Duration
This may seem paradoxical, but if you want to get faster fitness results, you should probably cut down on workout time. Instead of focusing on spending as much time at the gym as possible, focus on doing the most intense exercises. Fitness experts and health researchers have reached a consensus: exercise intensity is a crucial variable in determining progress. Long moderate-intensity sessions can bring less significant results than short high-intensity sessions. Thus, to make fast progress with your workout routine, you may need to focus more on training intensity rather than duration. Plus, hour-long sessions can be exhausting and intimidating. It’s also difficult to find the time for them. Conversely, short sessions feel easier to tackle. When a 20-minute high-intensity workout can have the same benefits as a moderate hour-long session, the choice seems obvious.
Be Consistent
Consistency is crucial when it comes to achieving any goal. If you’re not meeting your goals at the gym, lack of consistency may be the cause. Going to the gym only when you are in the mood cannot bring satisfying results due to how our bodies work. Whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, or improve your overall health, you can only achieve your goal by working out on a clear-cut schedule. Although there are legitimate reasons to skip a workout once in a while, having a strict workout schedule that you commit to wholeheartedly is the only way to make progress. Week after week and month after month, you have to be at the gym, energized and ready to move. To be consistent means to be disciplined and committed. And once you embrace this mindset, you can expect to see quantifiable results.
Getting noticeable results from your workouts will help you maintain long-term motivation. If you put in the effort, it’s natural to want a reward. Use the tips above to improve your gym performance and achieve your goals.