gym guide ideas

Starting a new workout or nutrition program can be very exciting or very intimidating. It depends on how well you plan! If you set yourself up the right way, by making attainable goals, then you should feel more excited than nervous.On the other hand, if you make your goals a little too far fetched, you ll feel like you re about to walk over the edge of a huge cliff.To begin, find a picture of your goal body. BodySpace is great for this, and so are Fitness 360s. Then, follow in your role model s footsteps.Finding success in fitness requires a healthy nutrition plan, a regimented workout plan, a handful of nutritional supplements, and a community of like minded people who can help you be accountable and can offer you support.

Gym lines are bound to form during peak hours. The best option is to head to the gym during off hours either early in the morning or after 7 p.m., once the post work crowds have finished. But no matter how busy the gym is, you shouldnt have to stall your routine in order to wait for equipment.To get around this obstacle, always have alternative options in the back of your mind in case your preferred equipment is taken?for example a squat rack may be the best place for you to get in a heavy set of back squats, but as a swap, dumbbell goblet squats can be just as challenging and add an element of core strength. Come prepared with a Plan B and youll stay moving rather than wasting your time waiting for the bench to open up.

Although it may save time, dodging the pre workout warmup is a surefire way to get injured when your workouts get tough. Have a dedicated warmup that involves bodyweight exercises like lunges, squats, pushups, and jumping jacks to elevate your heart rate before you attack the weights head on. No matter how short of a time you have, always include this quick warmup in your workout.Make the first set of each exercise a lighter set that is higher in reps to further increase blood flow to the area and practice the movement before going heavy. If you simply dont have a ton of time to get in your lifting session, shorten rest periods and cut out a set of each exercise rather than ditching the warmup.

Walking into the gym without a plan in mind is a bit like heading to the grocery store without a shopping list. Youll end up wandering aimlessly back and forth, spending way more time than necessary. Your plan of attack should be well thought out in advance. Include the exercises, sets, and reps as well as the order you want to do them in so you can plan your route around the weight room floor.If youre working out with a buddy, take time to discuss the routine ahead of time so youre both on the same page. This cuts down on talking and ensures that you both get down to business.

Cardio is crucial to any mans workout plan, but it can be detrimental when done at the wrong time. Completing a 30 minute jog before a set of heavy squats may increase your heart rate and act as a warm up, but by the time you get under the bar youll be fatigued which can lead to poor form or worse, potential injury. Instead, get your form intensive lifting session done first, and then hit the cardio area.

Going through the same repetitive routine every single time is a quick way to get bored and stall any and all results. Your workout routine should change every few weeks either by alternating the exercises or the acute variables like sets, reps, and rest times.For optimal benefits, you should stay with a workout routine for about three to four weeks before changing it up. Use a workout log to track trends in your training and see what works best for your body.

According to Jason Ferruggia, head strength coach at Renegade Strength and Conditioning, most guys should be in and out of the gym in 60 minutes, including warmup, cool down, and a good lifting session. To make that possible, avoid wasting precious moments in between sets of an exercise.Wear a stopwatch or use an app on your phone to limit yourself to under a minute. Youll be amazed at how quickly youll finish your workout.

Leave your dedicated abdominal work till the end of your workout, and youre likely to cut it short. When youre tired and nearing the end of a lifting session, the last thing you will want to do is multiple sets of planks, side planks, and leg raises. Instead, get the core training out of the way early by incorporating the same moves in between exercises.Perform them during rest periods to maximize your time in the gym. Avoid incorporating core while working on heavy strength sets of total body moves like squats as they rely on your core for proper form and positioning. Instead, incorporate them alongside exercises like bench press and leg press that rely less on the midsection.

Although it may seem trivial in terms of your overall routine, leaving the thirst quencher at home forces many guys to head to the water fountain in between sets. The result ? wasted time in between exercises. To keep your workout going strong, bring your own bottle and fill it up beforehand.

Avoid putting a circuit together that takes over the entire gym. Not only does it inconvenience other gym goers when you traverse the entire gym floor with your superset, it also wastes precious time. Group your exercises in a way that allows you to utilize equipment in the same area. This cuts down on transit time between sets and gets you out of the gym faster.