Getting adequate amounts of exercise is essential for losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, sometimes simply going through the motions isn’t enough to keep your metabolism at its peak.
These small, simple adjustments can help you maximize your workouts and burn more calories – so you can slim down and tone up to get the lean, cut body you deserve.
1. Start Your Day Right
Even if you’re a fitness enthusiast, avidly hitting the weights right after work, if you want to burn those extra calories, try starting your day with a little cardio. Your metabolism is at its best during the beginning hours of the day, and by getting up a few minutes earlier, you can amp your caloric expenditure by going for a quick walk around the block.
Not only will you shed those extra pounds, but you’ll improve blood flow to the brain, so you can think faster and clearer during the day.
2. Switch it Up with Intervals
Keeping a steady pace may be a great way to prevent burning out by the end the day, but eventually your body will adapt, making your regular routine more of a quest for endurance than a fat burning, muscle building experience. To make the most of your workout, alternate between high-intensity cardio with moderate-intensity recovery periods.
Example: Start by warming up your muscles, then bump up the speed or resistance on a machine for 2-5 minutes. Return to your regular pace for 5 minutes, followed by an interval of short bursts and moderate pacing. Finish with a 5 minute cool down at a slow pace.
If you think your body is coping well with these intervals, then you can amp your workout even further by increasing speed while decreasing recovery time. So long as you’re allowing yourself at least 30 seconds of a moderate resting pace while alternating with more intense bursts, then you can keep your calorie burning engine revved and ready to go.
This method is especially useful for breaking through plateaus.
3. Bring a Buddy
You can make the most of your workouts by finding a friend, neighbor, or fitness partner that will not only cheer you on but push you to go further, faster, and longer than you previously thought possible. Make it a friendly competition and see who can bench press more or run a faster 5k. It’s easier to stay motivated when you have a friend with the same weight loss goals in mind, and having a good buddy to talk to can make workouts feel shorter.
4. Add Some Variety to Your Routine
Sticking to the same old machines day in and day out is not only boring but ineffective, often resulting in weight loss plateaus. Rather than turning each gym session into an agonizing 30 minutes of pain and boredom, switch it up by trying a new machine or new sport. Instead of casually jogging on the treadmill for the first 15 minutes of your workout, you can bump up the intensity by trying the elliptical instead. Learn to play tennis or soccer.
By incorporating new machines or new sports, you’ll not only burn more calories (because your body hasn’t adapted to the new motions), but you’ll keep workouts fresh and fun.
5. Dieting and Supplements
Although this may seem like a shortcut to weight loss, finding a quality supplement and incorporating a healthy diet can help boost your metabolism and shed those extra pounds. By eating healthy diet as well as regularly exercising, you can trigger your body’s natural fat burning fires to get that lean, cut look you’ve always wanted.
There are a wide variety of dieting programs and supplements available, making it easy to find a product that slides easily into your established workout routine. The African Mango Diet, for example, is one that has successfully helped many consumers reach their weight loss goals by boosting metabolism while suppressing appetite. Additionally, IrvingiaAppress comes highly recommended, backing each product with a money-back guarantee.