10 Helpful Gym Workout Tips For Beginners
Perhaps you’ve made a new years resolution, promise, or generally set a goal to get in shape. Congratulations, that is the first step! The next step is taking action. Often times stepping in a gym can be intimidating. However, there are remedies and ways to make your first workout routine more pleasurable and less intimidating. These helpful workout tips for beginners are a perfect way to kick start getting in shape!
1) Find a gym that suits you
Don’t just go to the first gym you see or hear about. Shop around, look at different places to find one with a vibe that suits you. Otherwise you might end up wasting a ton of money on a gym membership you never use because you don’t like the atmosphere.
2) Make sure you have the right gear
If your workout involves running, make sure you have proper running shoes. If you’re using machines, make sure your clothing is tight enough not to snag. Workout gear should be comfortable above all. If your clothes or shoes aren’t a good fit, it will discourage you from working out at all!
3) Bring a water bottle
It’s easy to get dehydrated during a workout. Make sure you bring a water bottle to the gym to replace all the fluids you’re sweating away. A drink of coconut water will replenish your electrolytes afterwards.
4) Don’t work out on a full stomach
It’s best to work out on a relatively empty stomach. If not, your body will use energy from the meal you just ate, preventing you from burning stored fat. Working out on a full stomach may also cause heartburn, wind or nausea.
5) Know your stuff
Ignorance can be dangerous during a workout. If you’re at the gym, make sure you know how to use the machines. If you’re doing yoga, pilates or barre, make sure you have a competent instructor and go slow so as not to pull a muscle. Be careful — you’re at the gym to improve your body, not damage it.
6) Don’t worry about getting beefy
If you’re scared that weight training will make you look like a bodybuilder, relax! The vast majority of women simply can’t build that kind of muscle, and even men would need to spend countless years bench-pressing to get there. Your body will simply grow more defined and trim.
7) Pain doesn’t equal gain
How sore you are after a workout isn’t an indicator of that workout’s quality, so don’t make that your goal! If you’re really stiff and achy the day after, have a rest day and dial down the workout next time.
8) Don’t try and spot-reduce fat
Although you can focus on toning specific muscle groups, you can’t target specific parts of your body from which to lose fat. Those exercises to ‘get rid of muffin top’? They’re a con. Fat is lost all over the body — focus on overall weight loss to see results.
9) Cross training is important
Doing the same workout over and over again is not just boring — it means that there are muscle groups you likely aren’t targeting. By mixing up your workout, you cover all bases and keep things fresh.
10) Eat plenty of protein afterwards
Now you’ve completed your workout — good job! It’s time to refuel with a high-protein meal, which will help repair your muscles and build new ones. This is one of the best workout tips for beginners as protein helps you actually see those results.
