Things you wish you knew when you started
There’s no doubt that there is endless information regarding exercise and nutrition. With so many opinions, articles and ongoing research - it’s hard to know what you should be listening to.
However, some things never change and they are often things you wish you’d known sooner - so we’ve put together some key considerations…
Endless cardio isn’t the key to weight loss
Sometimes when you’re new to the gym or you aren’t sure what you should be doing, it’s easy to gravitate towards the cardio room as it can seem less intimidating than weights.
However, if weight loss is your primary goal then it’s important to be doing a mixture of cardio and resistance training to help lose body fat and build muscle mass.
We understand that it can seem confusing in the weights area, so if you aren’t feeling confident then never hesitate to ask a trainer to help you.
2. Doing sit ups all day long is not the key to a six pack
It’s important to have strong core muscles whatever your goals are, but if you are also looking for the aesthetic that come with that, then it’s important to note that it won’t all come form ab exercises…
To achieve sculpted and defined core muscles, you need to be adding in resistance work to your training as this is what builds the muscle mass in the core, asking them more visible and defined.
It’s also key to note that your diet will play a big part - reducing body fat and building lean muscle all contribute towards a defined core.
3. Planning your workouts will make all the difference
It’s easy when you’re new to exercise to walk into the gym and just pick and choose different machines. The key thing to remember is that this will not result in an effective workout.
You would do much better to take 10 minutes before you start to decide what area of the body you want to work, which muscle groups and which exercises so that you cerate a structured session that will have a bigger impact. Again, if unsure, chat to a trainer!
4. Your routine outside of the gym needs to be as organised as your routine inside the gym
It’s all very well and good coming along for one session a week in the gym and working hard. However, if that is all that you are doing each week then you will be hindering your progress as a proper exercise routine needs to be consistent and regular.
This does not mean you need to be in the gym every day, but it does mean you need to be trying to achieve the following:
30 mins of exercise each day ( walking, cycling, gym, fitness class, swimming etc)
You need to aim to do a varietyy of exercise tyoes each week
You need to aim for a healthy and balanced diet
You need to aim for 1-2 litres of water per day
Don’t let all your hard work each session go to waste by not doing the basics!
If you found this helpful, you may like to take a look at the following:
Choosing the right workout programme
