I want to first applaud you. (Applauding) Nice job! You went to the gym and you worked out today. You are making strides toward building the body you want and making a healthier YOU!
Ok. Are we off the air yet?
Perfect.
Now let’s discuss what the hell actually went on in the gym today. Your body wouldn’t have known the difference between that workout and dislodging the fork you stuck in the garbage disposal. It is time for you to understand the second half of going to the gym – which is kickin’ ass. It’s not as muchwhat you do, but rather how you do it. Hundreds of people are going to the gym everyday and leaving feeling as though they’ve “accomplished something”. I don’t want to take that away from them, but maybe I can help them decipher the difference between an incredible workout and a waste of time.
Here are some telltale signs of a crappy workout and some suggestions on how to change it for the better…
No Sweat!
So did you actually go to the gym today? Some people feel that just showing up to the gym is an accomplishment in and of itself. Well, just like G.I. Joe used to say, it’s only “half the battle.” You could have the best workout program in the universe, but if the effort isn’t put forth the results will not come, no matter how many days you go to the gym. This is an easy fix. Find something that gets you motivated, whether it’s abs for the summer, a new playlist on your iPod or that hot mom at the gym that always stares at you. She has a lazy eye – relax.
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
You know you had a crappy workout when the only muscle that is sore in your body is your jaw. Sure, the gym can be a great place to socialize…if you want to get a worthless workout. Chew some gum or don’t make eye contact altogether – whatever you need to do to focus on your workout and not on every person you know at the gym. Try writing out your workouts. This will give you no choice but to check off every exercise on the list and give you a solid workout with minimal distractions. Plus, do you really care Geroge’s brother’s cousin’s son, Topher, hit his first homerun last night. Doubtful.
Might As Well Take a Nap
Banging out a set of bench presses, followed by watching an entire episode of Entourage on your iPhone isn’t my idea of a heart-pumping workout. Implement supersets and shorter rest periods between sets. This includes buying a sports watch and timing your workouts. Once you start timing your workouts you’ll know why all the in-shape dudes at the gym are dripping with sweat. Not only will this keep you focused, but it will help your fat-loss goals as well. Timed workouts aid in hitting all the major points without the bullshit in between.
Your Car is Running
There is nothing wrong with a quick workout. In fact, many people have a misconception that they need to spend the day in the gym. Thirty minutes is, in many cases, more than enough time to blast your body into tip-top shape. On the other hand, you shouldn’t have workouts so short that you could leave your car running. This means that your head is not into it. Yeah, you showed up and actually did something…if you count three minutes on the treadmill and a trip to the water fountain doing something. Make your workouts fun by implementing a circuit of different exercises. This will make your trip to the gym mentally stimulating and will get you out of their fast.
Read Any Good Books Lately?
I never understood the person that could read an entire novel while on the spinning bike at the gym. I can’t even chew gum and flush the toilet at the same time, let alone that. There should be one thing on your mind when you’re working out - WORKING OUT. By now you know that you need to set goals, whether it’s packing on muscle, burning fat or building endurance. Take those goals and focus on them. Unless reading Oliver Twist for the seventeenth time helps you maintain focus, I suggest leaving the book on the shelf.
Now that you just got a reality check as to what a real workout consists of, you will be more aware of where your focus should be when you make your next trip to the gym. You will start to notice that other people in the gym are doing what you once did. You can now laugh to yourself, wipe the plethora of sweat from your brow and jump right into to your next set.
Have you had some crappy workouts? How did you fix them? Let us know in the comments below!
The post 5 Signs of a Crappy Workout and How to Fix It appeared first on Mike Arone Fitness.