How to make a short workout count. I’ve always been an active person and while I don’t participate in a lot of organized sports, I really do like going to the gym or to a dance class. If you are anything like me though, seeing the sun and feeling its warmth on your skin makes you want to skip every workout and just laze around outside. Now, while I can’t really advocate skipping workouts or doing very short ones, there are those days when you only have 20-30 minutes and you can still get a complete workout in.
HOW TO MAKE A SHORT WORKOUT COUNT
Increase the intensity. Since you don’t have a lot of time to workout you can’t waste a moment. From start to finish you need to be sweating like crazy and moving the whole time.
Use heavier weights. You’ll be doing fewer sets so up the weights. For all of you who are thinking that you don’t want to bulk up, don’t worry, you won’t. Choose the heaviest weights you can handle while still maintaining proper form. Hint, you just might surprise yourself with how much you can actually lift.
Work multiple muscle groups. Squats and lunges are great exercises, but you know what’s even better? Adding some biceps curls or overhead presses will make your workout that much more effective (and fun). The key is to work your whole body for each exercise. Also, since most of us spend much of our days sitting down, aim for exercises that keep you upright.
Combine cardio and strength training. This is about getting a complete workout, so if you don’t want to give up strength training or cardio, combine the two. Do a set of weights and then do jumping jacks for a minute instead of resting.
Circuit. Another option is to alternate between higher and lower intensity exercises. Start with a series of lunges and then drop and do some push ups. Keep changing those muscles groups after each set and you’ll find that you can keep going for a longer period of time before resting.
Even if you are just doing a short workout, make sure that you are warming up sufficiently and then following it up with a good stretching session. Not only will this be a perfect cool down for your muscles, it will also help you stay injury free.
Do you ever skip long workouts in favour of short ones?
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