Make Your Workouts Count

Mind is All

It's hard to make time to exercise, so you want to make every workout the best possible. The following suggestions will maximize the effectiveness of your workout program:

Vary your workout program. If you perform the same exercises day after day, your body will get used to them and will no longer be as challenged. You'll want to introduce new exercises because each new activity will challenge your body in a new way, which builds more muscle and forces your body to expend more calories.

Protect yourself from injury. Here’s another reason to engage in a variety of exercises—you want to avoid wearing out any particular muscle group or joint. You'll want to engage in at least three different types of exercise each week, for example, biking, kickboxing, and playing tennis.

An ideal exercise program consists of both cardio exercise and resistance training. The ideal workout program consists of 2-3 days a week of weight lifting and 3-5 days a week of cardio exercise. Pamper yourself in between weight lifting sessions so your muscles can repair, and make the most of your cardio sessions by alternating fast and slow paces.

Challenge yourself more as time goes by. If you push yourself too hard right away, you won’t be motivated to workout the next day. You don't want to injure yourself. Begin your program exercising in a way that challenges you but only makes you feel somewhat sore the next day. Push yourself harder as your body adapts to the program so you are always a little sore the next day. If you aren’t sore at all, you’re not pushing hard enough. You forced yourself to work too hard if you need to take painkillers to get through the next two days.

Seek out training and inspiration whenever possible. If you don’t know how to use a machine in the gym, ask the personal trainer for help. Get advise on aerobic exercise and proper form as well; it can save you from injury later. You'll be amazed at how many variations there are on exercises you thought were plain and simple.