Working out is a great habit to pick up but doing so successfully is a whole other story.

Whether you’re just starting to get into working out or you’re a seasoned physical maven, check out these 7 best workout tips to help you reach your physical goal successfully.

1. Don’t Skip the Warmup

Any good athlete will tell you that if you skip the warmup you’re only hurting yourself in the long run…literally.

Warmups provide the necessary engine rev that your body needs to be able to prepare itself for a workout. This includes getting some good stretches in for mobility and flexibility, and/or going for a short 10-minute jog on the treadmill.

Don’t forget to do this after your workout too!

2. Make the Mind-Muscle Connection

Whether you’re trying to increase your squat or figuring out how to grow a bigger chest, the metaphorical mind-muscle connection is important. You want to be making sure you’re focusing on the muscle group(s) that are being worked to be engaged.

This can mean going a little bit slowly with the reps that you’re doing and making sure that the tension and squeeze are activating in the spot you’re trying to work.

3. What and When You Eat Is Important

If you’re serious about working out, this shouldn’t be a surprising tip.

The saying goes ‘abs are made in the kitchen’ and your fitness goal should be made up of 80% what you eat, and 20% what you do in the gym. You can’t outwork a bad diet, so make sure you’re properly fuelling yourself and your workouts.

Speaking of fuelling, make sure you’re eating the proper meals to fuel up before your workouts as well as fuelling up your muscles once you’ve finished. You won’t be progress if you aren’t eating enough.

4. Incorporate Interval Training and HIIT

A great workout tip for beginners? Long-distance running won’t give you the same results as interval training and HIIT will.

Doing a short burst of high-intensity training will burn more calories and be more beneficial to muscles and weightloss than long-distance running. Do yourself a favor and skip the 5-mile run and try out sprints instead.

5. Taking Your Rest Days Seriously

You need your rest in order to see progress. This doesn’t mean heading out for a hike or a bike ride because you’re skipping the gym today. It literally means taking it easy and kicking your feet up for a day.

The rule of thumb for muscle growth and recovery is giving each muscle group you work 48hrs to recover before engaging them again. Go easy on yourself and enjoy that time off, you deserve it.

6. Drink Your Water!

Drinking water cannot be stressed enough as being probably the easiest and hardest of the workout tips.

Hydration helps keep those muscles nourished and also keeping your joints healthy and lubricated. It also helps replenish the liquid you’ve lost while sweating it out, and aids in curbing appetite.

Aim to drink between about half an ounce to an ounce of water for every pound you weigh and watch the difference it’ll make in your workouts.

7. Be Patient

One of the most underrated workout tips for beginner, and seasoned fitness folks, is being patient.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will an athletic physique. You need to be patient with yourself and your progress in order to not rush yourself into an injury. Patience in the gym also helps with keeping your expectations realistic and being proud of where you started from.

Know Any Other Workout Tips?

There you have it, 7 tips to get you motivated and pumped for either the start or continuation of your fitness journey.

For more tips and tricks to get you moving, be sure to check out the rest of our site.