Five key aspects to keep in mind when you return to the gym
The new course marks, for many, the return to sporting activity after the summer holidays. We tell you what to do to avoid injuries and succeed.
There is a lot of talk about bikini surgery and how to prepare our body before summer. But what about exercise after the summer? September and the start of the new course are often the time when we resume our sporting goals.
In doing so, we must be especially careful to avoid discomfort or injury and establish an exercise routine that we can maintain over time to get the best results. In this article, we share the five key aspects that you should consider when returning to sport.
1.You need time to get your body ready
Remember that the body and physical form you had at the end of June are not the same as they are now. Muscle strength decreases after two to three weeks of inactivity and aerobic endurance may decrease after as little as a week.
Your body needs time to get back to the level you were at. Therefore, it is best to start your sessions at the gym gradually and gradually. A good way to do this is to reduce repetitions or weight in strength exercises or time in cardio workouts.
In addition, in the initial phase the warming up and the final stretches become more important than ever, as our body is more vulnerable.
Don’t worry if you notice that the exercises you used to do with ease are now usually more demanding. In a few weeks you will return to your optimal state and you will be able to continue progressing.
2. Set realistic expectations
In connection with the previous point, he tried to set achievable objectives in the short term. We know you’ve come back from your holiday with renewed energy and a desire to turn your life and health around, but we shouldn’t be too ambitious.
It’s best to focus on expectations that we can meet to avoid frustrations and maintain motivation throughout the course.
If you have an ambitious goal in mind (such as running a long-distance race, scoring your abs, or getting into an advanced yoga posture), it’s best to identify and focus on the steps you need to take to achieve it.
3. Adjust your workout to the results you want
Sometimes, we spend a lot of time and effort on exercises that don’t help us. If you’ve been training with a goal in mind for some time and aren’t achieving results, this might be a good time to rethink if your routine is right for meeting your goals.
You can start learning about the best practices to follow in specialized books or websites, but it’s best to come to our team of professionals to design a plan that fits your personal needs and goals.
4. Don’t forget to take care of your diet
Just as important as going back to the gym is following a healthy diet. Summer is the perfect time to indulge in whims and it is normal (even sometimes desirable) for us to put our food goals in the background.
Now is the time to regain healthy habits and make sure we provide our body with the nutrients it needs to face the return to work and the gym energetically. Although, of course, we don’t need to obsess or stop enjoying the food we like the most.
5.Give your body (and mind) the rest it deserves
September is a time of great intensity and it is common for the workload to increase significantly. If you add to this your long-awaited return to the gym, you run the risk of your day to day becoming excessively hectic.
Remember that both your body and your mind need time to rest. Make sure you keep days off so your muscles can recover from workouts and get enough sleep.
With these tips, you are prepared to face the new course with strength and prudence. Happy back to the gym!