20 Expert Tips to Get The Most Out of Your Workout

Life’s busy and we’ve all got so many things to juggle on a daily basis between work, socialising, family time and then finding time for wellbeing, working out or taking time to reconnect with yourself. It can be a lot. With so much to balance, why not take the stress out of working out, and get the most out of every single session and rep?These 20 expert tips deliver efficiency, so you get the most out of your workouts and feel great after.

1. Incorporate resistance training

Resistance training should be a staple in anyone’s training program. Split or full body programs are available so there is always a training program for you.

Resistance training is a great way to build muscle to improve strength but can also lead to a faster metabolism as seen in aobesity research journal in 2014 showing that resistance training leads to high caloric burn and increased loss of body fat.(1)

A2010 studyalso showed that resistance training can help reduce anxiety and improve mental health.(2)

2. Stay Hydrated

Hydration is important for performance and recovery but has also been linked to injury prevention. Water also helps flush toxins, transport nutrients, and regulate temperature.

A study in theJournal of Human Kinetics looking at 271 college athletes showed those who prioritised hydration maintained performance.(3)

The daily guide is 6 to 8 glasses, but if you’re working out you may need more, especially when doing high intensity workouts.

3. Prioritise mobility

Stretching and mobility work is the classic part of training that’s undervalued. It can be just as important as the training session, prepping the body for the session to come, and allowing your body to slow down and reset post workout.

A study published inCurrent Sports Medicine showed that dynamic movement pre workout, and static stretches post workout, can help with increased performance and better recovery. So dedicating time to focus on mobility has its rewards.(4)

4. Make sure you recover

Recovery is an important part of any serious training program; optimising recovery is an effective way to improve results and get the most out of your training sessions.

A paper fromUniversity of Wisconsin-Madisonsaw that sleep plays a critical role in the training, recovery, performance, and overall wellness of professional athletes.(5)

By prioritising recovery, you can work hard in your sessions, allow your muscles to rebuild and recover effectively, and also improve your overall wellness.

5. Supplement where needed

There are a whole range of supplements on the market that claim to give you real results, but some are undertested.When it comes to supplementing, based on research, the two you want to focus on are protein and creatine.

A scoop of whey protein and 3-5g of creatine pre or post workout was shown by researchers fromVictoria University (Australia) over a 10-week period to increase muscle mass and strength across bench press squat and deadlift while also seeing a decrease in bodyfat in study participants.(6)

6. Try interval training

From HIIT to Tabata style training, intervals are shown to promote better cardiovascular and fat losing benefits than other workout formats.

ASports Medicine study showed performing 4min (4 on and 4 off) HIIT intervals, three times per week over 12 weeks, is a powerful form of exercise to enhance vascular function and drive fat burning results.

Layering intervals into your training can be a great way to take the intensity up and also get better results faster.

7. Mind and body connection

It can be easy to go through the motions when training without focusing on the movements we’re performing and the muscles we should be using. It’s important to really connect with the muscles you are using when performing your exercises.

Research done byThe Lerner Research Institute showed that, even without resistance, mental training can enhance the cortical output signal leading the muscles to a higher activation level and increased strength.(8)

So next time you hit a workout, slow down and really focus on every movement of your body through both the concentric and eccentric movement.

8. Fuel your body

Our ability to move in everyday life or optimally when working out comes down to ensuring we’re fuelling our bodies effectively and efficiently. Ensuring you hit all the important food groups can be the difference between reaching or missing your goals. Diet is key to successful training.

Everyone’s nutrition needs are different in terms of quantity but everyone should be havingproteins, carbs and fatsin their daily diet to ensure body and mind are fuelled.

A study fromDuke University, Durham, North Carolina shows the importance of fuelling for performance in athletes. When combined with nutrition timing output was far greater and those who missed one of the key macro groups needed to supplement for optimal performance.(9)

9. Switch things up

Standard progressive programming shouldn’t change much over 12 weeks, with manipulations happening every 4-6 weeks. However, this can be boring for some people.

Switching things up can help curb boredom, but a recent study fromEast Tennessee State University study, showed performing multiple variations of an exercise changes the muscles used by the body. (10)

These recruitments lead to a change in the weight lifted, and more gains than if the same movement is repeated month after month.Switching up movement and training styles can keep the body guessing. It’s a cliché for a reason.

10. Pre fuelling

Carb-loading before endurance races such as marathons, ironmen or even marathons but it can also be beneficial to fuel your body pre workout especially if you’re hitting something with high intensity.

A sports medicineresearch paper showed that carbs are used as the primary source when it comes to higher intensity workouts, this can help output levels which in turn promotes better calorific burn and increase muscle preservation and growth then those who work out fasted.(11)

Why not make sure you’ve some higher carb food 90-60 mins before your next workout.

11. Post fuelling

Fuelling your body post workout is just as important as fuelling it before, losing fluids and depleting energy stores throughout your workout will leave your body needing a pick me up post session. Drinking water is a great way to rehydrate and replace any lose fluids, a higher carb refill will help with muscle recovery and replenish lowered or used glycogen storing in your muscles, not to mention promote repair and growth.

Arecent studyshowed that whey and dairy protein may stimulate an increase in muscle protein synthesis and enhance recovery, while another study fromCopenhagen Muscle Research Centre shows that replenishing glycogen stores in the muscles may also help prevent muscle protein breakdown. (12) (13)

12. Don’t forget your headphones

Music can be a great way to stay motivated, get yourself pumped for a workout or even help you relax after, plus it can help boost your mood and wellbeing. Research has suggested the benefits are actually even greater.

A study in theIndian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology suggested those who used slow tempo music post workout recovered faster than those who didn’t. (14)

While an additional study in thepsychological bulletin showed listening to music across a range of physical activities could enhance physical performance.(15)

So next time you need a boost to hit a session hard or a cool down to promote recovery, make sure you’ve got your playlist at the ready and your headphones aren’t left at home.

13. Boost your session with pre-workout

Need a boost before your session? There are a lot of pre - workouts to choose from, but remember that the key ingredient is caffeine. Taking 200-400mg of caffeine 90-60 mins before your workout can increase fat burning, endurance, and help you go harder.

A study byUniversity of Guelph, Ontario, Canada showed caffeine can lead to a greater power output and ability to train longer.(16)

There are a few options to choose fromif you’re after a pre-workout boost.

14. Massage it out

We don’t really need another excuse for a massage, but we’ve got one for you. Exercise causes inflammation in the muscles, and to aid in recovery it is essential to flush out this inflammation. Muscle repair happens post workout during the recovery process so anything that can aid in this will help drive your results during the next sessions.

Arecent study by Ohio State University and the University of Pittsburghfound massage “increases the percentage of regenerating muscle fibres,” especially when done immediately after exercise. Plus it aids in relaxation post workout.(17)

15. Cardio before or after weights

When time’s limited it can be better to train smarter, not harder.

A study by theUniversity of Tokyo showed resistance training before cardio significantly boosted fat burning during the later session. (18)

If fat loss is your goal then do your cardio either after weights or on a different day.However, if you’re looking to build on endurance, performance may be hindered when cardiovascular training is preceded by resistance training. Scheduling training will optimise your goals.

16. Find workout partners

A bit of encouragement or support from friends and family goes a long way. And that doesn’t stop when training. A group of training partners can help keep you accountable as well as encourage you to hit new PBs and make you feel more confident.

Astudy by the British journal of health psychology suggested exercising with a companion seemed beneficial for the promotion of emotional and instrumental support. (19)

17. Have a cuppa

There’s nothing like a good cup of tea.

Hydration is key to recovery and optimal performance. Recent studies have shown tea can play a role in this as well as reducing cortisol (stress) levels within the body. (20)

Certain teas, such as turmeric and green tea, can play a larger role in promoting recovery and weight loss. So, grab a cuppa.

18. Chocolate Milk is good for you

That’s not a typo. Chocolate milk helps recovery. I repeat, chocolate milk helps recovery.

A study in theInternational Journal of sports nutrition and exercise metabolism found chocolate milk is an effective recovery aid when taken between two high intensity exercises.(21)

This is due to its 4:1 ratio of carbs to protein, meaning you can simultaneously induce muscle repair, as well as replete energy stores.

19. Lifting accessories can help

When pushing your body to its limits for optimal muscle growth, relying on lifting accessories is not advised. But they can aid you in being able to train heavier and, in turn, improve quicker.

A study byFederal University of Pelotasshowed lifting straps can directly influence the exercise performance which requires manual grip strength, aiding you to increase the amount of work performed by the muscles. (22)

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20. Timings of your workouts

It can be important to time your workouts for optimum results.

A study by the National Centre of Medicine and Science in Sports suggested cardiovascular training could be better in the morning or mid-afternoon when it comes to performance, however resistance training could be more beneficial when done in the evening. (23)

Anadditional study showed a hormonal peak in the late afternoon leading to an increase of performance in the evening.(24)

So, planning your workouts around timings in the day could lead to better performance when planned efficiently.

Take Home Message

No matter your goal, the time you have, or how you like to train, there’s a tip that can work for you. From intervals to cups of tea, there are many ways that are scientifically backed to help you optimise your training and get better and faster results. Make sure you train smarter and get the most out of every session, rep, and the time you invest in reaching your goals.

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Amy Golby Writer and expert

Amy has a BSHons in psychology where she was a sports scholar, as a sportswoman for over 18 years playing rugby and netball up to a national level. She is a level 3 qualified personal trainer with a diploma in sports and exercise nutrition. She has been training in a gym and weightlifting for over 13 years, participating in CrossFit, Bodybuilding and many other events such as hyrox, triathlons and marathons. She has a passion for extending her learning through latest studies and with a great passion for getting more women into fitness. Amy has created programs as a coach for the last 4 years as well as around sport and fitness for Red Bull, Hyrox, Spartan UK, as well as Mental Movement UK around how fitness can help improve your mental health. She is also a advocate for female confidence and being awareness to mental health and body confidence. She can be found here – https://www.instagram.com/dreams_and_dumbbells/?hl=en

References:

1 – https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/oby.20949

2 – https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1559827610368771?journalCode=ajla

3 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8336541/

4 – https://journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/fulltext/2014/05000/The_Effects_of_Stretching_on_Performance.12.aspx

5- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40675-022-00243-4#article-info

6- https://vuir.vu.edu.au/1441/

7 – https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-015-0321-z#citeas

8- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14998709/

9- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5753973/

10- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26544089

11- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23846824/