Break Up with your Bad Workouts.

Every once in awhile I have a bad workout or two, everyone does, but do you really know why you’re having an off day? Having a bad workout can be discouraging, especially when you’re first starting out, but it’s important to not give up and just take a step back to figure out why you’re not performing at the level you want to.

You’re not fueling properly.

Making sure you’re adequately fueled at all times is always number one. This includes eating right (about 80% of the time), and eating at the right times. It’s never a bad idea to grab a snack heavy in nutritious complex and simple carbs right before a workout. Since your body uses carbs as its fuel, it’s good to top off the tank just so you know you have enough energy to get you through the workout (simple carbs will give you the boost you need in the beginning and more complex will help you to sustain your energy throughout).

If you’re feeling tired, weak, and just not energized, it’s best to get the proper fuel you need before you start your workout. I get it- sometimes we don’t always realize until we are halfway through the work out that we’re running on E. I like to keep a granola bar with me so I can easily fuel up and finish the workout strong. Not having that extra boost can be a real exercise buzz kill, but I highly suggest NOT trying to push yourself if you feel weak or dizzy because you didn’t eat enough. This can be really dangerous, and it’s way more important for your body to be stabilized than to injure yourself just to get the last 20 minutes of a workout in.

(This honestly happens to me more than I’d like to admit, but when you’re as busy as I am, you sometimes don’t have time to pick and choose the perfect time to exercise. Weekends can be killer for me since I am off my normal schedule and not eating as consciously as I do during the week. I realize that being somewhat of a fitness expert, I should be on top of my shit all the time... but I’m not. This usually results in me having to wait a few hours so that I can fuel properly. It’s not an ideal situation, especially if you have limited time, however to get the most out of our workouts, it’s best to be adequately prepared.)

Other than not eating enough, you could be eating the wrong stuff. Fueling your body with junk foods (non-nutritious options such as: fried foods or packaged snack foods) can make you feel sluggish. Eating a nutritious diet full of foods your body actually uses, such good fats, carbs and proteins, will help you to perform at optimal levels. Fueling your body properly all the time is really important to getting in effective workouts.

You’re bored.

Getting into an exercise rut sucks. Going through the same motions is not only boring, it doesn’t always yield results. If you have to drag yourself to the gym everyday only to put in a half-ass workout, what’s the point? It’s time to switch it up. This could be as simple as a revamp in your playlist, or a complete mix-up in your workout routine.

Mixing up your routine will not only get you excited to try something new, but it will avoid hitting a plateau. I do a lot of interval training, a mix of cardio and lifting, however, I recently just did a week of just cardio to avoid a plateau and reset my workout routine. For me, a week of straight cardio was a challenge not only physically, but mentally as well. It made me appreciate the lifting part of my regimen, and I also earned some great physique changes by avoiding a plateau.

If you’re feeling bored or hating your workouts, take the time to try something new that you could really enjoy. Try a new class, work out with a buddy, or watch a fitness video. Exercise should not feel like a chore, it should feel more like a reward!

You’re overtraining.

Yes, over-exercising is a thing. If you don’t give your muscles time to repair, you’ll feel weaker and you actually impede your results. Every time you exercise, you make tiny tears in your muscles, which are then repaired and rebuilt in your recovery time, making you stronger (this is where you see muscle tone and results!!). If you don’t give your body proper rest time and continue to exercise regardless, your body will exceed capacity to recover. If you’re not recovering, you’re not seeing results, and you won’t feel healthy either. (So what’s the point? Take that rest day!) Each workout you continue to do after without rest will be weak, unproductive, and potentially harmful. It’s also really hard to give it your best when you’re not 100% healthy.

Summing it up.

Learn to listen to your body. It might not be easy at first, and it takes time to get tuned in to how your body responds. If you’re hungry, eat. If you’re tired, rest. If you’re bored, switch it up. You will struggle every once in awhile, but it shouldn’t be a recurrence. It’s important to know how to fix what’s hindering your exercises, and get you back into efficient, productive workouts!

#Fitness #Workout