Make the Most of Your Workouts

The timing of a workout may very well be just as important as what you actually do. Allowing for too much down time, or organizing your workout in such a way that allows you to make excuses at the end that leave off critical exercises, will seriously disrupt your training. In the end, your progress will wane in comparison to a well-structured, well-paced session that keeps you challenged both mentally and physically.

The Do:

Make sure that when you walk out of the locker room and complete your warm up that your first series of activities revolves around your core muscles. Everyone wants that tight, indestructible middle that has the proverbial six pack abs, yet few make the in-workout decisions that will give them the chances to achieve this sculpted abdomen. Many people hit the weights and focus on the bigger muscle groups, such as the chest or shoulders, thinking they can leave the abdominal work for the end. However, what they often fail to realize is that the end of a workout, obviously, involves less energy than the beginning. As a result, the work that is done on the core is either done so in a minimalist manner or is curtailed and shaved down to reflect the remaining energy. Rather than risk this, begin your session with a rigorous core workout, or integrate abdominal work in between major muscle sets throughout the training.

The Don't:

People simply rest too much. Standing around with hands on hips or leaning against the water fountain wastes critical time that could be better spent engaging your muscles and making progress. Prior to working out, logically set a path through the gym that permits you to train various muscles one after the other. For example, if you do a set on the bench press, leave that area and do a set of leg presses. There is no reason your legs cannot work while your chest recovers. Once the leg press is complete, go back to the bench and repeat. Eliminating needless rest keeps the heart rate up and maximizes your workout.