Gyms are usually great places to get in shape, they have lots of equipment, fitness trainers to assist you and have flexible hours. As a personal trainer and older adult specialist I have spent many hours in the gym not only working out but also observing how others exercise. In some of the cases where I see people exercise, they seem to know what they are doing, but in others it is obvious that they are clueless and in some cases risking their health and safety. To help people get in better shape and stay healthy while they exercise, here are 3 ways to guarantee a great workout.
- Have a plan- When people tell me they spend hours doing their workout, I can only imagine the time spent on talking to friends, texting on their phone, resting an excessive amount of time between sets or in some cases adjusting their workout music playlists. When you don’t have a plan for what you’re trying to accomplish before going to the gym, it is easy to waste time and never get a good workout. If your goal is getting your heart rate up or burning calories; doing a long slow workout will never help you get there. Next time you go to the gym, know what you want to accomplish and get rid of any distractions, which in some cases might include your friends.
- Focus on form- one thing that is guaranteed are that gyms are a great place to see horrible exercise form. Since many people have bad exercise form, they never lift any heavy weight because if they did they would injure themselves. When you never lift weight that is heavy enough to challenge you, the result is that you never get stronger. The best advice I could give people is to focus on doing the exercise correctly then adding weight gradually which will get you stronger and build muscle.
- Work more than your biceps- men in general are guilty of only working out their “beach muscles.” There are plenty of men that have muscular upper bodies but only “chicken legs” which isn’t good for balance and symmetry in your body. Whether you do full body workouts or have specific workout for each day, make sure you workout your entire body.
Regardless of what gym you go to or what equipment they have available, it is only as good as what you do with it. When you have a workout plan coupled with correct form, it is amazing what fitness goals can be accomplished.
About the Author: Eric Daw is an active aging specialist and the owner of Omni Fitt. Omni Fitt is dedicated to the wellbeing, health and quality of life of people aged 55 and over in Toronto. Eric motivates and empowers the older adult population to take responsibility for their independence, health and fitness through motivating and positive coaching experiences.
