Tip 1: WATER, WATER, WATER!!!!
Making sure that you are drinking enough fluids throughout the day is the best thing you can do for your body! We carry a bottle of water with us everywhere to make sure that we are always staying hydrated, even if we are not at the gym. But don’t worry; if you forget your bottle at home always remember that the Union, Wells, and Hilltop have stocked markets to get yourself a water, or a sports drink with electrolytes. We have two strategies for all of you to think about when it comes to drinking plenty of fluids:
- Consume 16oz of fluid 2 hours prior to exercise and an additional 8-16 oz if exercising in warm weather.
- Drink 20-40oz of fluid for every hour of exercise.
Tip 2: Update your ITunes!!
Do you wear your headphones while you workout? We challenge you to revamp your “gym” playlist with songs that truly motivate you to do your best! Music stimulates your body while working hard throughout your workout and gives you the drive to work harder. Listening to music helps block out any outside noise or distractions, so your focus is on giving 110% to your workout and not on the two girls chatting on the ellipticals beside you at the Rec Center.
Tip 3: Warm your body up!
Stretching before you train, and warming up before you stretch is the key to having a productive workout. Don’t jump right into your training session. We suggest you first do about 10 minutes of low-intensity exercise on a stationary bike or a treadmill. Then, once your tissues are warm, stretch for another five to 10 minutes. This will help you decrease your chance of injury.
Tip 4: Cool your body down!
After your workout, don’t jump right out of your training mode. Follow up your workout with a brief five minute cool-down. If you’re at the Rec, we suggest power walking around the track two or three times or if you prefer to run the trails, park over by the Rec and power walk to your car after you finish running. Prior to your cool down, take another five to 10 minutes to stretch!
Tip 5: Dress for Success!!
Wearing the proper gym attire doesn’t just make you look like you just stepped out of a Nike commercial, but can also help regulate your body temperature and help protect your body from injury or pain. Our two apparel favorites:
ASICS Running Sneakers: ASICS shoes are designed to help protect and support your feet during your workout. They have tons of different styles for all forms of exercise and foot structures, concerning foot arch and aliment.
Lululemon Apparel: Lululemon has three different groups of fabrics for your three levels of workout intensity. The fabric groups either help pull moisture away from the skin to help the fabric dry quickly, are thin to create a skin-like feeling, or thick to hold body temperate in.