When it comes to working out, there are plenty of ways gym-goers can go wrong…
Really, fitness isn’t about “pumping iron” or pushing yourself until your body gives out on you.
Fitness is about exercising the RIGHT way. Let’s break down the difference.
You need proper form, balanced nutrition, and the right pace to see results. Pretty standard stuff, right?
Well, it’s not always that simple. “Gymtimidation”, or even the desire to get results immediately, can make people practice sloppy form, eat too few calories, or overwork themselves…
Here’s the good news: Fit Body has invented a four-point strategy to help you get the most out of your workouts! Consider these the four “pillars” to remember if you want to lose weight and burn as much fat as you can.
A quick side note: These aren’t just suggestions to improve your workouts; they’re principles that Fit Body stands by and uses at each of its locations worldwide.
Metabolic Training
By now, you probably already know what our signature Afterburn effect is, right?
Well, just in case you don’t, here’s a quick breakdown: our workouts tap into our body’s metabolism. Our boot camp members will work out in fast-paced 30-minute blocks. If done correctly, the body will be burning calories long past your gym session—I’m talking in the car home, at work, or while running errands.
Now, a crucial step in achieving Afterburn is to push yourself the right amount. Burn yourself out, and you’ll be back on the couch by the end of the week. Work out without effort, and you won’t see results at all.
We recommend that newcomers to our classes begin with 60% effort, while returning members can up the pace to 80%. Try the same thing at home! Also, make sure you perform each exercise with explosion and quickness; that way, your body will be pushed as if it were exercising for much longer.
Food
You HAVE to eat before you work out. There really is no budging on that…
The less people eat before workouts, the less energy their body has to pull from when it gets tired. You want to eat at most 3 hours before your workout begins.
We recommend scaling down the intensity of your workout if you haven’t eaten within 3 hours. That’s to ensure that you stay safe and don’t expend any energy you don’t have.
This is common sense, but try to lay off the greasy foods before you work out. Sure, your body needs fuels, but it needs nutritious fuel. Try eating some lean protein such as grilled chicken or salmon before a heavy session.
The “Form to Fit” Process
Ever try to hike to the top of a steep mountain?
You probable struggled initially to get your bearings straight. You might have had to adjust to the terrain, the weather conditions, the wildlife creeping in the bushes…
You knew that you would not reach the top of the mountain until you mastered everything before it…
The same can be said about fitness.
It’s funny, though, because oftentimes people act like they can climb to the “summit” of their fitness goals without building up to it.
It doesn’t matter if you can lift 1,000 lbs. or do 1,000 reps—if you have bad form, you’re only hurting yourself!
When you lift weights, strike the battle ropes, heck, do any type of exercise, what you’re really doing is building a foundation for yourself.
People who rush those exercises—no matter how easy that may be—teach themselves terrible form. That bad form’s going to translate when you try lift heavier things, stretch a little bit further, etc.
You don’t need to become a muscular god or goddess in two days. It took the great bodybuilders of our day years and years to sculpt their bodies to their liking.
Slowly build up to the goals you want to achieve. Master lighter weights first, then add more weight and reps once you feel comfortable. You’ll feel stronger, and you won’t be at as much risk for injury.
Find the Trainer for You
All great trainers, nay, all great achievers, value one very simple thing in common. Can you guess what that is?
Feedback.
The perfect trainer is two-fold—he or she knows their stuff enough to run results-driven workouts, and that same trainer has the flexibility to adapt to their clients.
If your trainer refuses to listen to any of your input, you might want to work with someone else…
If your trainer changes your workouts every time you suggest something to him or her, you might want to work with someone else.
See, when people want to get in shape, they’re usually in a bit of a helpless position. Sometimes, they have no idea where to start—they don’t know what foods to eat and what exercises to do. Other times, people know exactly what it takes to get in shape, but they can never get themselves motivated enough to do it.
In either case, they don’t know how to fix themselves.
Trainers are the buffer between yourself and laziness. Not only do they have the tools to get you fit and healthy, they act as an accountability partner who can make sure you’re not falling prey to your old habits.
That’s why giving feedback to your trainer is so important. You can’t expect for someone to change your life if they don’t even know about the life they’re trying to change.
You need someone who can show you both compassion and tough love. If you need a pick-me-up, this person’s right there at your side. Been slacking on your diet? You need a trainer who cares enough about you to tell you what you need to cut out of your life.
Those are two things that even our loved ones struggle to help us with. Sometimes they aren’t blunt enough with us, sometimes they aren’t loving enough.
Seriously, find the right trainer. It makes a world of difference!
Bonus: Know Your Body
Have you ever stopped to consider which parts of your body hurt the most?
Where have you been injured in the past?
I can’t stress this enough: you can only push as hard as your body will let you!
Thing is, oftentimes people aren’t honest with themselves. They exercise well beyond their limits, usually leading to injuries and fatigue.
The solution? Mold your workouts around what you can do.
If you blow out your knee, it would be silly to try some plyometrics or jumping exercises. You’ll want to find leg workouts that won’t wear on your knees—maybe some resistance band training—and SLOWLY build back up your strength.
If you’re worried about being too stubborn for your own good, again, a trainer is the way to go! They’ll stop you when you’re doing too much, and they’ll adjust your workouts so you can get the most out of each session.
