As much as we would like to stick to our workout resolutions, things don’t often play out as we would hope. Life gets busier, emergencies happen out of the blue, and the next thing you know you’re abandoning workout goals you made at the beginning of the year. Many people struggle with the same issue. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to kick yourself out of that annoying rut. Here are six simple tricks to prepare your body for a workout.
Table of Contents
1. Consider taking a pre-workout supplement.
Whether you do your workouts early in the morning or late in the day, feeling low on energy is common. This can be due to several factors e.g., sleeplessness, poor diet, fatigue, or even boredom. One of the best ways to get over these symptoms is to take a pre-workout supplement a.k.a “pre-workouts.”
Pre-workout supplements, like the Gorilla Mode pre-workout, are designed to provide you with more energy to fuel your workouts. The main ingredients of most pre-workouts are caffeine and beta-alanine – two factors that have been proven to improve workout performance. Pre-workouts may also include Creatine Monohydrate, a natural substance that increases muscle growth.
2. Drink lots of water.
Water is essential to our overall health. When we sweat, we lose the water stored in our bodies, which may make us feel lethargic and low on energy during workouts. To keep this from happening, you need to make sure that your body is maintaining a good amount of water and electrolytes.
Experts recommend drinking 15 to 20 ounces of water one to two hours before starting a workout. Drink another 8 to 10 ounces 15 minutes before you begin. Continue drinking the same amount every 15 minutes you spend working out. This should keep you from getting dehydrated while you exercise.
3. Add a pre-workout snack to your routine.
If you’re feeling particularly low on fuel, eating a pre-workout snack might just help you get the edge off. Keep in mind that just because it’s called a “snack” doesn’t mean you get to munch on a bag of chips before a workout. Junk food has high amounts of sodium which can cause your body to lose water more easily.
Instead, consider eating something healthier like oatmeal or ricotta cheese. You can find dozens of pre-workout snack ideas on websites like Total Shape. Carefully select a recipe that fits your style and needs, and just try it out.
4. Remember to warm up.
Exercising without a warm-up is a surefire way to get yourself injured. By not warming up, you rob yourself of the opportunity to prepare your body for what you’re about to do. Warm-ups help raise your body temperature, increase flexibility and mobility, and get your heart pumping before your workout.
Increasing flexibility and mobility during a workout can help you get the most out of your routine. Not only will it help you avoid injury but it will also improve your performance and efficiency. You can do deeper lunges, carry heavier weights, and much more.
5. Be well-rested.
While it’s not impossible to jump on a workout with very little sleep, it’s not something that experts would recommend anyone to do. A lack of sleep can reduce a person’s reaction time, strength, and energy. Pushing yourself to exercise in that state can make you feel more tired and can even result in injuries and illness.
Studies show that elite athletes get a minimum of eight hours of sleep every night. If you know you have an early workout scheduled the next day, it’s best that you go to bed earlier too. Alternatively, if you have a workout scheduled later in the afternoon, taking a 15 to 20-minute nap should help you feel refreshed, especially if you didn’t get much sleep the night before.
6. Make sure you’re dressed properly.
You’ll probably be doing a lot of jumping, bending, walking, and running in your exercise clothes. Making sure that your clothing can handle this type of activity is important for so many reasons. One, it helps you stay comfortable while you do your routine. Two, it keeps you away from injuries. Three, It allows you to perform better.
Most people avoid buying the right clothing and equipment for their workouts because they get scared of the price. However, you don’t necessarily need to buy the expensive workout clothing you see in advertisements. There is plenty of exercise wear sold at incredibly affordable prices. You just need to know where to look and what to look for.
Conclusion
Working out after a long break can be difficult for every person. Having the right techniques to make the process easier is key to your success. Above are six simple tricks to prepare your body for a workout. We hope you find the time to add them to your routines and improve your overall performance.