Don't you sometimes wish that you had your own personal trainer? Someone to guide you through your workout and give you hints about getting more out of your exercise? You may not be able to afford a trainer of your own, but these trainer hints and tips will help you make your workout even more effective!
Buddy up One of the primary benefits of a personal trainer is having someone to hold you accountable for your exercise. A trainer is paid to do this, but the easy (and free!) option is within your own circle of friends. Ask a reliable friend to be your workout partner. Knowing that shes depending on you to work out with her will increase your motivation to stay on track with your fitness regimen. One way to ensure success is to allow each partner a certain number of "cuts" per month at a price. Failing to show up for a session with your trainer costs you money, and so should skipping your workout with your friend. Ante up $10 for each cut and let it accumulate for six months or longer. At the end of a predetermined time frame, use the money to treat yourself and your workout partner to a luxurious splurge.
Shorter workouts can be as effective as longer ones Sure, you'd like to be able to work out for forty-five uninterrupted minutes, but let's be serious. With today's busy schedules and demanding jobs, finding time to exercise can be a struggle. The good news is that you don't need a huge block of time to see results. Studies have shown that workouts as short as ten to fifteen minutes can strengthen the body and improve your health. Fit several brief workouts in your day and you not only increase your metabolism throughout the day, but you also reach the ideal activity level of 45 to 60 minutes per day. Don't let yourself be discouraged by a lack of time; make the best of what you've got.
Add variety to see results The fastest way to see changes in your body is to keep surprising it! Changing your routine every few days prevents your body from becoming conditioned to the same exercise. Different activities call on different muscle groups. This means more muscles are worked over the course of just a few days, so you see the effects on your body in much less time. A good way to add variety is to incorporate weight lifting into your cardio routine. This requires the body to respond to challenges in balance, strength, and more, speeding up your results.
Intensify for more strength To see an improvement in your strength and aerobic capability, most trainers recommend increasing the intensity of your workout. Too often people become comfortable at their level of exertion and don't work as hard as they might. By boosting the intensity, you keep your body challenged and working harder. Taking deep, wide steps during aerobics and squeezing the buttock and thigh muscles pushes the body to a higher level of exertion and can produce amazing changes in just a few workouts. Weight-lifters should try adding 3-5 pounds to their current weight and see the difference in toning and strength after a few sessions.
Know your excuses and head them off Personal trainers often deal with clients who make excuses and have to be able to keep the client on track without offending. When you are your own personal trainer, though, it can be hard to discipline yourself unless you give yourself an advantage. Take a minute and write down all the excuses you would use to avoid exercising. Once you've done that, go back and counter all those excuses. If you wrote down lack of time as a reason not to exercise, oppose it with suggestions for short, frequent workouts rather than one long session. If you can anticipate your own excuses and know how to respond to them, you've won half the battle against apathy.
Make it fun! Perhaps the most common complaint about exercise is that it gets boring. Personal trainers help you ward off boredom by changing your routine or offering new choices for activities. Help yourself break out of the boredom rut by choosing alternativeactivities that appeal to you. Instead of spending thirty minutes inside on the treadmill, go for a hike in the park. Rather than doing your aerobics video for the millionth time, go outside with your kids and jump on the trampoline for a while. Any activity that you enjoy and that requires physical activity is fair game, so break out your tennis racquet and bicycle!
Schedule and commit - Signing up for a personal trainer is a commitment of time, money and energy, and for that reason people with personal trainers tend to stick with the program. Apply the same sense of obligation to your own exercise program and you'll increase your chances of sticking to a consistent workout plan. Schedule your workouts just like any other appointment, and write it in on your calendar or Palm Pilot. Knowing that you have set aside time for exercise can help you follow through successfully.
Reward yourself - Set checkpoints throughout your exercise program to gauge your progress. Whether your goal is to lose weight, build muscle, or simply improve your health, take the time to notice your improvements. Then be sure to reward yourself for all the hard work!