Starting a gym routine is an excellent way to improve your health, fitness, and overall well-being. It can be a great way to push yourself physically, gain strength, and boost your confidence. However, it’s important to remember that starting a gym routine can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to exercising or haven’t been physically active in a while. There are several dos and don’ts to keep in mind to ensure a safe and effective workout experience. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gymgoer, these tips will help you get the most out of your workouts and achieve your fitness goals.
1. Begin with cardio
If you’ve never worked out before, start with a light cardio workout, such as walking on the treadmill for 15-20 minutes. Increase your pace once you’re comfortable with that. Continue to increase the time and intensity until you can run and walk for a total of 30-35 minutes without feeling exhausted.
2. Move to weight training
Then, gradually incorporate some bodyweight exercises, such as knee push-ups, squats, and assisted pull-ups. Start with weight training when you can do 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps of these. To avoid injury, it is critical to begin slowly and gradually increase the intensity.
3. Make warm-up exercises a top priority
Also, it is critical to warm up before each workout session and stretch afterward. This will prevent not only injuries but also muscle cramps, pulls, and spasms, which are common among beginners. Furthermore, diet, particularly pre- and post-workout meals, is an important component of your workout plan. What you eat will be reflected in your body. Your body will reflect what you eat. You don’t have to make drastic changes or eliminate certain foods from your regular diet. A simple home-cooked meal, combined with limiting your junk food intake, is the most sustainable diet plan, but pre- and post-workout meals are crucial. So here are some quick tips on that as well.
4. Pre-workout meal
To avoid indigestion, keep pre-workout meals light and eat them at least an hour before the workout. Pre-workout snacks include fruits, dry fruits, and nuts.
5. Post-workout food
A post-workout meal is also essential for replenishing your body after a strenuous workout. Whey protein shakes are one of the most popular post-workout meals because they immediately contribute to muscle building. But that is not how our bodies work. Over the next few hours, our body will repair itself. So, if you eat enough protein in your other meals, you don’t need a protein shake. After your workout, try to eat a nutritious meal with plenty of protein and healthy fats.
6. Maintain proper hydration
When it comes to diet, hydration is crucial. When you exercise, you will lose water through sweat. Drink at least 1 litre of water before, during, and after your workout, but sip by sip.
Going to the gym on a regular basis and doing a moderate-intensity workout will yield far superior results than a super-intense workout done only once in a while. Consistency is far more important in this whole thing.
