For Best Pre-workout Results: Practice These 8 Things Daily
Working out is important for people of all ages, body types, and backgrounds. When working out, it is important to maintain healthy habits. Pre-workout is not just a high energy beverage. Your pre-workout routine helps to dictate how hard you will work out, how long you will work out, and how good you will feel after working out. Following a few simple tips makes forming a pre-workout routine fairly simple.
- Hydration is key.
Drinking adequate water before working out helps in a variety of areas. If you do not consume enough water prior to working out, you are more likely to experience muscle soreness or dizziness. Dehydration can cause cramps, fainting, and injury. Water provides natural, calorie-free energy when consumed hot or cold. Foods with water can also hydrate you.
- Always stretch before your workouts.
This helps to prevent injury and muscle soreness. Stretching is important both before and after workouts. It helps you stay limber and use the maximum range of motion possible during your workout. It also helps you to avoid pulling a muscle during resistance exercise.
- Be sure to create and use a plan for your workout.
By writing out a plan each day that you work out and sticking to that plan, you will feel less overwhelmed by the idea of working out. These plans will also help you to keep track of past workout activity and increase or add workouts where needed. By using the best pre-workout, during the workout, and postworkout practices, you will get the most out of your gym time or home exercise practice. Do not forget to plan for rest days as well, where you only do a gentle activity like walking.
- Protein and carbohydrates help to fuel your body.
It is important to have a snack or small meal 30 minute to an hour prior to your workout. High protein snacks that also have carbohydrates like yogurt, chocolate milk, or cheese and crackers are good to eat before the gym. You can also opt for a preworkout beverage or protein shake or protein powder. If you consume a preworkout beverage, it is important to make sure that it is low in added sugars and high in your desired macro and micronutrients.
- Get enough sleep at night.
Going into the gym well rested will help you get the most out of your workout. You might find that yoga, meditation, or herbal tea before bed will increase your sleep quality and workouts. When you sleep better, your muscles have more time for adequate recovery. A more rested body will also have more energy and stamina to complete a workout at home or at the gym.
- Avoid alcohol before your workouts.
Alcohol is sometimes considered the fourth macronutrient. Alcohol consumption before a workout increases your risk of dehydration or injury, even if you fully sober up before going into the gym. The body also metabolises alcohol for fuel over any other macronutrient. This means that you will need to burn off the alcohol calories first if you are attempting to burn fat. The carbs and protein from your preworkout snack provide far more high-quality nutrition and energy, but the alcohol that you consume will always be used as a fuel source first.
- Find the right playlist, podcast, or other entertainment that will keep you energised and motivated.
Staying energised during a workout routine involves more than just the right body fuel. It also requires the right mindset. Upbeat music in your favourite genre is often useful as a motivational tool during runs, bike rides, and cardio. You can find a premade playlist or curate your own on the music streaming app of your choice. Others prefer podcasts that are educational, motivational, or business-related. This is because the mind is often more easily engaged when the body is engaged as well.
By implementing these practices before workouts, you will most likely increase stamina and decrease recovery time. You will also have a greater sense of energy and be less prone to injuries. Of course, there are many other practices besides those listed here that help engage in before the gym. Some of these preworkout practices include meeting up with a gym buddy, calling an accountability partner, or logging into a fitness tracking app of your choice.
Whatever preworkout practices work best for you, it is important to make a routine once you have found those practices. Keep what works for you and eliminate what does not so that you can achieve success comfortably. What you do in the gym is important, but it is even more important is that you maintain these vital preworkout habits for all fitness levels.
