Working out is pointless if you are not getting results. The goal of an exercise regimen is to make you fit and healthy, but there are factors that may be keeping you from achieving those objectives. Are any of the issues below reducing the effectiveness of your workouts?
1. Plateaus
One of the things that serious exercise fanatics fear is the plateau. This is the point at which your body stops responding to exercise. The normal progression is this: an individual starts working out and seeing changes in their body but over time the returns diminish. Changing up your workout routine can help you to start making progress again. Consider new exercises, implementing more reps or speeding up your sets.
2. Workout-Frequency
This has to do with how many times a week you exercise. The right number of times will vary depending on the individual. Your cardio exercise should be performed anywhere from three to six times a week. Strength training should be done between two and six times a week. Remember that adequate rest is essential if you want to see benefits from your workouts.
3. Warming Up
Warm up exercises prepare your body for the strenuous nature of a workout. The blood circulation in your muscles and ligaments is increased which makes them more flexible and less prone to injury. Your heart rate is also increased and you get a chance to prepare yourself mentally.
4. Technique
Not using exercise equipment properly or maintaining correct form when exercising are good ways to injure yourself. Since it will not be possible to work out while injured, your attempts to get fit and burn calories will be severely limited. The key is to educate yourself on how to use equipment and on proper form prior to starting your exercise program. Talk to a trainer about to how using exercise equipment and look for online videos that demonstrate the correct techniques to prevent injury.
5. Clothing
Your clothing may not seem like an important factor, but it is. The clothes you wear for your workout can help your performance in the gym or hurt it. Consider the fact that your clothes can greatly affect your body temperature and your range of motion during exercise. Clothes that are made of breathable material will wick water away from your skin thus keeping you cool; on the other hand materials like cotton will soak up your perspiration and become heavy. Work up a sweat in a designer vest knowing you'll be nice and cool in more ways than one. You should wear clothes that allow you to move freely, this is especially important when it comes to support gear like sports bras and athletic cups.
By paying attention to these factors, you can make your workouts more effective and move closer to your goals. Working out should be more than just mindlessly going through the motions; you should actively tweak your regimen so that you get the benefits you want.