Rushing into a workout without the proper preparation can lead to injuries or prevent you from getting the best possible results. Whether you’ve never worked out before or you work out every day, it can always be useful to give yourself a refresher on getting ready. Being conscious of what you need to do to get optimal workout performance can be a useful first step. Taking the time for this first step can guarantee better fitness results and help you reach your goals quickly and safely. Here are some things to consider as you’re getting ready to work out.
1. Hydration
You body will better at working out if you are hydrated. Dehydration, caused when you don’t have enough water in your body, can cause you to lose stamina or muscle strength, impeding your workout. It can also lead to potential health risks if you overexert yourself. It can be important to drink water not only at the gym or fitness center, but before you arrive as well. If you’re already dehydrated, it can take a few hours after drinking water to get your body feeling back to normal, so starting a healthy pattern of hydration a few hours before your workout can keep you feeling fresh and ready to work.
2. Supplements
If you’ve been around other people who work out enough, you may have heard of some people taking supplements before or after the gym. These conversations may leave you with some questions: does pre workout increase performance for everyone? Is it safe? Supplements consumed before going to the gym are usually meant to increase energy and decrease fatigue. These may include caffeine and various nutrients that limit lactic acid buildup, which causes your muscles to get tired faster. If you take them, you may find yourself able to work harder or longer, allowing you to build more muscle or burn more calories. Supplements taken after going to the gym, in comparison, are usually intended to help replenish and augment nutrients in your body. These may include protein, carbohydrates or electrolytes.
3. Warm Up
Whether you’ve taken a supplement or not, once you get to the gym, you likely shouldn’t jump right into exercising. Starting to work out without warming up first can lead to injuries as muscles that aren’t prepared to stretch are put into challenging positions. A warm-up can also get your blood flowing faster, which helps your muscles recover quickly from strenuous exercise. If you do some stretches before running or lifting weights, your muscles may not feel so tight and sore the next day. Warming up is most often an investment in feeling better after your workout.
4. Meal Prep
Your workout doesn’t have to start at the gym. In fact, it can start at home. Proper nutrition and a good diet is an important part of working out: it gives your body the proper fuel to build strength and stamina. Before you even go to the gym, sit down to learn more about what foods are best for your goals. Consider grocery shopping with your workout in mind or preparing meals in advance so you can eat after your workout without a lot of additional labor. Keeping an eye on your diet is not something you have to do immediately before a workout, but it can be useful to keep in mind anytime you think about your overall health goals.
It can be exciting to go to the gym and do some hard work. Being very strong or very fast can make you look quite impressive. Before you get out there, though, it can be important to prepare yourself properly. Putting the time into getting ready for your workout can be just as vital as the workout itself. Consider taking the time to properly prepare for your workout in order to avoid injuries and get better health and wellness results from each visit.
