Strong Is The New Sexy

A toned and well-built body makes anyone confident and also can be an ego-booster. For us female folk especially as we get older it feels good to have a toned and firm body. But to achieve this you would need to be disciplined and just heading to the gym and going through hours of cardio or training is just not sufficient anymore. The secret lies in how you approach your training efforts.

Over the last few years, I have felt that focusing on certain aspects can help achieve this and though I do not consider myself an expert in the topic, I am sure you can relate to these simple yet important points to focus on. 

Keep Track of Your Activities: The first of the many lessons you would receive in training is the need for records. When you record or track your activities, it helps you to check your progress. It also helps you to understand what is to be done and what is not to be done. It helps you to know where to continue your work out the next day. It also reminds you on where you are probably lagging behind. With a successful and progressive workout routine, you are most likely to see a lot of change. Eventually that is the goal!

Set Realistic but Challenging Body Goals: One of the ways one you grow is to establish a realistic and motivating goal. Realistic goals do not mean you will not challenge yourself. As you get stronger you automatically set higher targets knowing that you are capable to pushing through the tough times. 

Building with the Macros: No matter how you may work out without the right nutrition it would be of no use. Initially it may seem too large a task to count your macros and so I would suggest to work with a professional who can set up a food chart based on your goals. There is a particular type of nutrition that would work for each individual and a professional can help you understand this. The right macros which is a proper combination of carbohydrates, protein and fat would help you achieve your gains.

Staying Hydrated: Staying hydrated is very important for strength training and muscle building. We need to remember that our body is made up 70% of water. As we sweat more, we lose more water and hence staying hydrated all the time is crucial.

Rest And Recovery: You have been hitting those reps like a warrior but have you been giving your body enough time to recover. One of the most important aspects of increasing your muscle is by resting after a challenging workout session. Overtraining is not a good thing since it leads to a higher risk of injury and eventually amounts to decreased performances.

Planning is of Great Importance: Do not rush into lifting heavy weights. One of the necessary things you should learn in building more muscles is to plan more and do less. You might go on carrying heavy loads, and thinking results will show. It doesn’t work that way. The secret lies in how you approach your weight-lifting activities. You plan with professionals and then you start with lighter weights and progress.

Reps and Sets: Knowing about reps and sets is the way forward in achieving a muscular body. There is no progress in lifting a load for a long time till exhaustion. The growth comes from lifting or doing select sets of exercises for about 10 to 12 per set. Remember to rest after each set but only for 30-60 secs before proceeding to the next set as this allows your muscles to rest in between sets, so you can get the most out of them every time you lift.

Maintaining your Form: is as important as the exercise itself. Without the proper form and knowledge of how to do an exercise, the point of going through those 10-12 reps not only is useless but can also end up with injuries. In the initial days at the gym, do not hesitate to ask the trainer to watch you as you work out so that they can ensure your form and technique in on point.

Be Consistent: Consistency is the key to almost everything in life. For the strenuous goal of building more muscles in your body, there is need to follow through those initial plans you made.

If getting stronger is on your list of things to achieve, then you need to take heed of the above and I ensure you that sticking to these few basic rules would take you a long way.

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