Whether you’re a health fanatic, or just starting out on your fitness journey, incorporating regular exercise into your routine can do wonders for your mental and physical health.

Each person is different when it comes to fitness, so while one individual may be wanting to gain muscle, another may be working out to lose weight. No matter the reasoning, it’s only natural that you will want to feel the effects, so here are 5 hacks for getting the maximum out of your workout.

Lift Weights

If you’re the type of person who sticks to doing cardio, you are sabotaging yourself in the long run. Not only will your metabolism decrease, but cardio on its own will make weight loss harder.

To increase your metabolic rate, you should consider trying out resistance training. Spending 20 minutes out of your day weight training can help build muscle mass, improve posture, as well as maintain weight loss. Other positives of lifting weights include lowering inflammation and gaining bone density. 

Listen to Music

Whether you’re signed up to a gym or prefer to workout from home, we all know that having our favorite tunes on can give you the motivation and fire you need to get through a workout.

While music can be great when you’re in the swing of things, you may not be aware of the benefits it can bring after your session. Listening to a couple of your favorite songs after an intense workout can help get your heart rate and blood pressure back to normal much quicker.

Eat Plenty of Protein

Many individuals make the mistake of not factoring plenty of protein into their diet. Your muscles need to rebuild, so eating the right foods can be another great way to maximize your workout.

If you don’t eat much protein, it’s likely that you won’t get much use out of your workout, especially as both strength and cardio workouts require protein to build muscle. If you’re struggling to get protein in your body, your first port of call should be to drink protein shakes.

Stay Hydrated

It’s important that you keep yourself hydrated throughout the day to ensure you get the most out of your workout. Remember, it takes a few hours for your body to absorb the water, so make sure to drink well before you start exercising.

Try and get into the habit of drinking water regularly throughout the day so that you are well prepared for a workout. If you find it difficult to drink lots of fluids, carrying a water bottle around can serve as a constant reminder.

Get a Better Night’s Sleep

So that you can feel the full benefits of your gym session, quality shuteye is key. If you’re not getting plenty of sleep, not only will this have an impact on your performance at work, but you will notice a difference when working out.

Without appropriate sleep, you will feel run down and lethargic, which may make you put health and fitness on the backburner. Thankfully, there are many tips that you can take on board to improve sleep quality, such as by practicing a relaxing bedtime ritual, as well as sticking to a sleep schedule. Other tips like a really nice mattress may be all it takes to ensure you get a good night’s rest.

While most of us don’t want to spend hour after hour at the gym, you will want to get stronger, leaner, and fitter, so if you’re not getting the results you want from exercise, all the tips listed above can help maximize your workout and help you on your journey to looking and feeling your best.