It doesn’t matter what time of year you choose or at what point in your life you start going to the gym – what matters is how you approach it. If you haven’t been to the gym in a while or aren’t sure what you should be doing – make use of free guest passes like the ones they have at Fitness 19. This will give you an idea of their equipment, and you can chat with the people who run the gym there. You can see whether it is the right place for you. 

Once you find the right place, though, here is how you can make the most of your gym time. 

Photo bySven Mieke onUnsplash

Reps or form?

To get the best from your workout, the form you use will have the most significant impact. However, many new gym goers look at their reps rather than their form. Proper form will mean you get the best out of the workout and avoid injuries. 

Ask a gym instructor or a gym buddy to help you get your form right – then, after that, move on to nailing the reps you have set as your goal. 

Goals 

While it is good to set a goal, your main goal could just be to feel fitter – and that is fine. Many people choose to set a weight goal, a reps goal, a distance goal, or others. Goals can help you stay on track for what you want to achieve. There are a couple of ways to track your goals. One of them is to take photos as you go. 

Photos can be incredibly motivating because you can see the changes in your body. They say that most of the time, the people around you will notice the changes after a couple of months – but you might notice them much sooner if you track them carefully. 

Workout journals are also instrumental because you can see the figures attached to your work. You’ll see the uptick of the weight you can lift, and depending on if you are bulking or losing, you will be able to track that too. 

Nutrition 

You need to feel your body has the right foods so that it has the right amount of energy to go into a workout and recover well. The foods you choose should be considered like fuel. Some foods will give you more benefits than others. 

You don’t need to change everything you eat immediately; you can do it over time as you start to work out more. 

Change up 

Doing the same workouts every time you go to the gym will mean that, over time, you get bored – and that you might start to plateau because you don’t push yourself anymore. Every few weeks, change what you are doing. Work out a new muscle group, change the cardio that you do – anything that keeps you engaged in the workout process. 

Time off

Even if you want to hit the gym daily to reach your goals, by doing this, you are likely to find yourself burning out pretty quickly. Your body won’t have time to recover between workouts, and you will be pushing tired muscles to perform their best. You’ll notice the difference, which can cause many people to feel like they aren’t making the progress they want. 

Rest and recovery are two of the most important things for a good workout. 

Never underestimate how vital cardio is when it comes to your workout, it has a long list of benefits: The Benefits of a Cardio Workout.