What New Gym-Goers Often Overlook
Simple habits that make the difference between going to the gym—and actually seeing results.
It’s exciting to begin a gym regimen, but simply having a membership doesn’t mean that you’ll achieve your desired results. All too often, gym-goers make a few common errors that prevent them from making as much progress as they expected to.
With that in mind, we thought it’d be a good idea to put together a list of the critically important aspects of going to the gym that newcomers often overlook.
Less Friction = More Success
It’s easy to get drawn to a swanky gym that offers great workout equipment, classes, spa facilities, and other premium features.
However, if that gym is located far from where you live, then you’ll have good reasons to give the classic I’ll go another day excuse that prevents new gym-goers from going to the gym with the frequency required to see and feel results.
The smart approach is to simply go to the gym that’s nearest to your home. After all, that’s the one you’ll actually go to, and is thus the one that’s most conducive to your success.
The Power of Eating Well
Eating well is paramount for getting the most from your efforts at the gym. Your diet really can impact the intensity and outcomes of your workout. It’s not necessarily about following the perfect diet from day one, but about being mindful of how what you consume will influence your gym efforts, with a little bit of knowledge about what foods to eat (and what to avoid) having the capacity to turbocharge your progress.
Looking After Your Body
New gym-goers can fall into the trap of believing that their progress depends solely on the intensity of their workouts.
But actually, rest and recuperation can play just as important a role. Not only does looking after your body help to maximize the outcomes of your gym sessions, but it also prevents soreness and tightness from setting in. Speak to an experienced gym-goer, and they’ll invariably tell you how important massage therapy and rest are to their progress. Scheduling a sports massage every 1 - 2 months can improve circulation and break up tissue tension, which is key for avoiding the reduced performance associated with muscle tightness and fatigue. Sleep, meanwhile, is when your body actually builds muscles.
It Takes Time
Did you know that90% of people quit the gym within three months of signing up? And that’s a real shame, for one simple reason — they were about to start seeing the benefits that would likely have encouraged them to stick with the gym on a long-term basis.
It takes time to see results. The first couple of months are really just about integrating the gym into your routine. For this reason, it’s best to adopt an I’m going for six months regardless approach. If you want to quit at that stage, then go ahead. In all likelihood, you — and others — will have noticed just how much of a positive impact it’s had on your mental and physical well-being, and quitting would be the last thing on your mind.
