The hardest part about getting in shape and starting a fitness routine is time and knowledge. Most people have very limited time, and making it to the gym falls lower on their list of priorities after kids, work and family. In addition, when you don’t know exactly what to do in the gym it makes it easy to skip your routine altogether!
I’m here to point you in the right direction and get you started with 3 workout hacks and tips to help your fitness routine go much smoother.
Make Success EASY
Remove as many obstacles as possible, and make success EASY. When you want to create a new habit, it helps to make it very easy to do. When the gym isn’t convenient, or your workout shoes are in the basement, these are examples of small obstacles that can be huge deterrents to getting a good workout in. Make success easy with things like keeping your workout outfit in your car to easily change into after work or on the go, and if you want to go to the gym first thing in the morning you can sleep in your workout clothes so you’re ready to go!
Creating new habits is heavily dependent on the convenience at which they come. Make fitness convenient, and your unhealthy habits inconvenient!
Bang for your buck exercises
When it comes to getting the biggest bang for your buck, or most effective exercises in least amount of time, “compound movements” are key. Compound exercises are exercises that require multiple muscle groups, multiple movements all in one. They are a little more technical, but they’ll allow you to engage more muscles, increase your heart rate faster and burn more calories in a much shorter time!
One of the best “bang for your buck” exercises is the Deadlift, which can be done with barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells or really anything that you can lift off the ground! It’s extremely functional, because it will teach you to properly pick objects up from the ground with great form (no back injuries!)
Technique is simple. Keep your back flat, your chest straight and your feet planted firmly on the ground. Use your legs to lift the object (NOT your back).
Use A Go-to In-Home Workout Program
Having something readily available for a workout can help you stay on track with your fitness goals!
The first is a simple program you can do anywhere, anytime, with endless variations, known as the Deck of Cards Workout. Grab a deck of cards and assign each suit to an exercise (example: squats, pushups, crunches, jumping jacks). Go through the deck one card at a time and whatever number comes up, you perform the exercise associated with that suit (3 of hearts = 3 squats). This routine is great because just like cards, it’ll always be different and it takes the thinking completely out of it – you just do what’s on the card!
Next, the Total Gym is a great, portable in-home workout machine with hundreds of exercises you can do! You can get an amazing full body workout using the Total Gym by simply following the guidelines in the workout manuals provided with the equipment… if you don’t have a Total Gym, you can get one here!
I hope this article provides you with some direction and ways to stay motivated and on track with your fitness routine. Remember, make your new habits easy to perform, get the most out of your limited time with compound movements, and have a go-to workout ready for days you can’t make it to the gym!
