9 things for the fitness newbie

… or so called “What I’ve learned so far”. I can’t say I have any visible results, but this is due to my lazyness mostly.

1. Be consistent – if you want to get results, they will most likely not appear in the first weeks (or even months, depending on your body type/diet/workouts). This is the time when you get discouraged. Happened many times with me too. Hell, it even happens now from time to time. So, if you want results – give yourself 3 months, and start doing it. Don’t expect anything in the first 3 months. Just do it, think of it as a way of getting ‘there’.

2. Adapt your gym schedule – OK, us, newbies tend to either overtrain or undertrain. Start carefully and pick a selection of exercises for each day. Create a diary (if you feel it will help) and note how you felt during each workout. Revise these often – you’ll be able to figure out what needs to be changed/removed. This way is much more easier and painless.

3. Exercise correctly – or ‘follow correct form of exercise’. This will help muscles to get enough tension and will work the correct muscles . Youtube or other sites are full of exercise examples – just search them out, and try to follow these at the gym.

4. Pain – no pain, no gain work perfect. But just for the muscle. Be careful for anything extraordinary – a good sportsman should know his body and stop immediately even after the smallest sign something is not OK.

5. Diet – I found myself eating way too much calories and crap after I started to log everything I eat. This is again something that needs to be adapted, but

6. Advice – ОК, you read a lot of advices, have some friends guiding you in the gym. But… why not try to gather some opinions, rather than catching the first. Always doubt…

7. Change – change the routine once in a while. This way you won’t get bored and will maintain interest during workouts.

8. Partner – it’s always useful to have a helping hand to drain the last drops of energy from the muscle. Sometimes I just feel I can do 1 or 2 more reps, but if there’s noone nearby to help I would just reach the farthest point of the exercise and stop….

9. Supplements – even if these are just some vitamins, supplements are important for reaching your desired form, weight, shape. I’ve personally used vitamins (B, C, E), minerals (Zinc, Magnesium), L-carnitine and Whey protein.

Blah – could it sound more stupid-er . I doubt it. But this is what I’ve learned so far. It will help me in my future months of building and working out.

Stay healthy.