Who doesn’t want to get fitter? After all, it’s great for our physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as our confidence. The good news is that you can find four clever and effective ways of upping your fitness below. Read on to find out what they are.
Try Interval Training
Research indicates that one of the most effective ways to enhance your fitness is to incorporate interval training into your routine. This is when you work out intensely for a specific amount of time, and then reduce the intensity of your workout for another specific amount of time. For example, a simple interval training exercise involves running for one minute and then walking for another, allowing for recovery and repeating the cycle.
The primary benefits of interval training are that it enhances your aerobic fitness and metabolism, allowing you to become fitter in the most efficient amount of time possible. Interval training can be applied to a wide range of activities, from HIIT to hill repeats, Tabata, and weight training.
Make Sure You Stay Mobile
Mobility is more than just being able to walk around. It’s also about ensuring that your muscles and joints remain mobile and flexible enough to live your everyday life. Examples of being mobile include being able to go up a flight of stairs or bending over and touching your toes.
There’s no need to panic if you can’t do those things right now, as mobility, in most cases, is a skill that you can develop just like any other. To build your mobility, it’s important to begin slowly and pace yourself. This will minimise your risk of injury, which can be higher if you are currently not as mobile as you’d like to be.
There is a range of activities you can do to help build up your mobility, from gentle stretches to yoga and even Pilates reformer classes.
Use A Supplement
Another effective way to enhance your fitness is to ensure that your body has access to all the necessary nutrients to function optimally. Of course, your diet will always be a major part of this, and ensuring that you set the right macros and consistently hit them is crucial.
However, many people also like to add supplements to their routine to help maximise their body’s chance of success. A wide range of supplements is available, including protein powders and vitamins. You can even get supplements from providers like PharmaGear that specifically help you maximise your muscle building. The benefits of which include increased appetite, improved performance, and enhanced muscle mass.
Start Walking To Work
It may seem simple, but something as easy as walking to work instead of driving can really help you improve your fitness. This is because by working to stay active, you can achieve your 30 minutes of activity each day and increase your steps in a consistent manner.
To make walking to work easier, consider investing in decent trainers or walking shoes, as well as a reliable raincoat. Some people even pack their workwear in a waterproof bag and carry it with them. Then they shower and change at work, so they are fresh for the day even after their work.
Get better sleep
Sleep is another crucial factor to consider if you want to get fitter. This is because your body struggles to produce the building blocks needed to build muscles and generate energy without sufficient sleep.
Unfortunately, getting good quality sleep in today’s fast-paced modern world can be a real challenge, especially when our phones are always tempting us with more dopamine before bed. With this in mind, establishing a solid sleep routine can be particularly helpful, especially if it includes turning off your phone a few hours before bedtime.
Investing in a high-quality bed and mattress can also help you achieve better sleep. This is because choosing the right mattress will support your body throughout the night, allowing you to wake up less frequently.
Learn How To De-stress
Did you know that being in a state of chronic stress can actually make it harder to get and stay physically fit? This is because chronic stress impacts our hormones, which play a major role in muscle growth, recovery, and fat burning.
That is why learning how to de-stress and give your body a break can be very useful, not only for your mental well-being but also for your fitness goals. Luckily, there is a range of techniques you can try, including guided meditations, counselling, therapy, hobbies, and even exercise, which we know help release endorphins and combat stress.
Find A Sport/Activity You Love
It can also help you so much when improving your fitness to find a sport or activity that you genuinely love. By doing this, you will not only make your exercise sessions more enjoyable, but you will also help maintain your motivation over time.
To help you find a beloved activity, consider the things you enjoy. For instance, do you enjoy being part of a team, and doing social things as well as just playing a sport? Then joining a team or league is a great option. Alternatively, if you love nothing better than smashing your own personal bests, then taking up lifting or running may be the best sport for you.
Create An Environment Conducive To Fitness
Lastly, to improve your fitness, it’s a good idea to create an environment that supports this goal. One way to achieve this is to invest in home gym equipment, such as a pull-up bar and dumbbells, as these will allow you to work out even when you are short on time or can’t make it to the gym.
Another way to make your environment conducive to fitness is to bring some training shoes to work. Then you can head out for a walk during your lunch break with ease.
Feature image from pexels.com
