5 Pretty Good Tips

I read a lot of articles and I do a lot of research on a pretty regular basis and these 5 tips keep coming up in various posts. I really can't argue with these!

1. COMMIT!

The trick to staying committed is setting a routine. Carve out time for lifting (or cardio, getting outside, something!), set it in stone, and consider it non-negotiable. Like a second job. Because other things in life will try to interfere, but if you deem that lifting time as gospel, you’ll have no excuses.

2. HUSTLE

Lifting and exercise in general is a mental game. I’ve had some amazing workouts on days I could barely make it through the gym door or into my workout room to press play. When getting there is the hardest part, find a way. Tell yourself doing something is better than doing nothing. Just get moving, and don’t freak if you can’t go extreme.

3. WRITE IT DOWN

Write down everything! Your goals, your sets, your reps EVERYTHING. If you keep your journal with you every time you hit the gym or begin any workout, you are focused. You can see actual improvement every time whether you hit one more rep than last time or lifted heavier than your last session. This also coincides with keeping an accurate food journal. If you are like me and you tend to forget what you really snacked on, try it for a week. You will be surprised.

4. CHANGE

Bored? Plateauing? It’s time to switch it up. I’m guilty of not doing it enough. I rely on staple exercises and programs that I like. But I know changing your routine is crucial to growth and avoiding muscle adaptation. Every 8 weeks or so, challenge yourself. Doesn’t have to be a complete reboot; a few tweaks can do the trick.

5. EAT

PROTEIN PEOPLE! Especially after a hard lifting session. Since everyone’s needs are different based on size, gender, lifestyle, etc., it’s best to do some research to find out specifically how much you need, how often, the best type for your goals, and so on. You can’t grow without it, so might as well do your homework and do it right. You can not starve yourself into a better body. The harder you work, the more you need to eat (eating the right things of course) If you treat your  body like a machine, why would you want to refuel it with crap?