5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Workout

Here are some things you can do to help you get the best workout every time, no matter what kind of exercise you do:

1. Get to bed by 10 pm the night before, no matter what time your workout is scheduled for. 

The Gallbladder does its job of processing fats in the body between the hours of 11pm and 1am. Not only will you feel more rested getting to bed before 10 but you’ll also assist your body in eliminating unnecessary fats. In fact, recent studies show that the optimal amount of sleep hours is actually 6.5-7 hours for adults as opposed to the popular 7-9 belief.  Learn more through Dr. John Bergman’s sleep series on YouTube. 

2. Drink an electrolyte drink

The day of your workout, have an electrolyte drink (see our favorite homemade recipe!). "Electrolytes are chemicals that form ions in body fluids. They help make sure specific bodily functions run at optimal levels. Too few electrolytes will cause the body to cramp. As serious athletes know, cramping can make a big difference on race day. So how do we prevent cramping and keep our body running at its peak performance levels? We keep it supplied with the needed amount of electrolytes." - Steve Born of Hammer Nutrition

If you make your own electrolyte drink, you could have some every day in fact!


3. Don’t eat within an hour or two before your workout

If you haven’t eaten anything, then definitely eat something small before your workout but eating within two hours of your workout isn’t healthy for two main reasons...

When you work out full, it cuts your digestive process because the blood supply must divert from digestion to the muscles. This leads to nausea, an upset stomach and a lousy workout (and you will generally feel miserable).

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4. Arrive 5 minutes before your workout to focus

Aim to arrive exactly five minutes before. After initially greeting everyone, use those five minutes to prepare yourself for your workout. Envision how the workout will go and how you will feel afterwards. Leave everything that is running around in your mind outside of the workout room. 

5. Be in the moment

Focus all of your attention on your workout. Try to experience the present and be in your body. Forget the conversation and dive into the present. 

When a workout becomes really intense, it can signal a flight or fight response in people. You need to be focused in order to avoid flight (giving up) before you’ve reached muscle failure. Getting to failure is what makes the difference in stimulating your body to change. ​

If you feel your mind wandering in the quiet moments, tell yourself what you’re doing to refocus. For example, “Right now, I’m on the chest press and I’m pushing my arms forward.” Then let the rest of the world fall away.