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10 Pointers to Prep for the Gym

  1. Nourish. Eat three balanced meals per day. Make your first meal of the day rich with protein (at least 30g). Select carbs that are low on the glycemic index. Choose healthy fats. Avoid drinking your calories. Drink lots of water. You know the drill.
  2. Work out on off times. There’s nothing more irritating than hitting a crowded gym with nothing available. Try to hit the Pivotal Fitness Greenville athletic club at non-peak hours to avoid the crowds and distractions.
  3. Purchase a heart rate monitor. Heart rate monitors are more accurate in calculating the amount of calories burned compared to machines. Purchase one of these to get a true reading.
  4. Consult Pivotal Fitness Greenville gym trainers. Need guidance? Don’t hesitate to ask our crew!
  5. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. Breathe through your workouts. Cultivate a steady, rhythmic breath. Less thinking, more breathing.
  6. Build strength. Don’t fear lifting! Building strength is far more important in terms of fat loss than cardio. The next best thing to strength training is maintaining a balanced, healthy diet. So, choose foods that support you and your workouts.
  7. Work with a personal trainer. If you need more one-on-one assistance, set up a few sessions with our Pivotal Fitness Greenville gym personal trainers.
  8. Strike a balance between effort and ease. Know when to push through it, and know when to back off. Sometimes pain does not equal gain. Listen up to your body’s needs.
  9. Sport wicking wear. Sweaty, sticky gym clothes can be uncomfortable and distracting. Avoid this phenomenon and select wicking wear. This material breathes beautifully and prevents sweat build-up. Plus, it prevents skin irritation and breakouts.
  10. Limit pre and post-workout treats. Don’t overdo it on the snacks. Try to get all of your fuel from your daily 3 balanced meals, but if you must, opt for a snack that is high in protein and not too carb heavy. Be judicious. Nut and nut butters are excellent in moderation. Wash down your treats with lots of water.
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The Debate About Cross-Training: Pros

Last month, the New York Times published an article examining the benefits of cross-training. Many clinicians and coaches tout cross-training for the simple fact that it offers more of a comprehensive workout. The theory is that your targeted areas will also benefit when you boost your overall fitness regimen.

For example, if you’re training to become a bicyclist, you can strengthen your whole body and improve your overall well-being by also training your arms, torso and general upper body. This can help you train your heart, your breathing rate, your endurance and the way your body operates with its parts working in coordination. It can also provide alternatives for athletes who want to diversify their skills, such as for a career move or simply training for a triathlon.

The New York Times reports that The American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine calls cross-training a “total body tune-up” and highly encourages the practice. Similarly, the American College of Sports Medicine advises choosing various forms of training for a comprehensive exercise experience.

Another argument for the benefits of cross-training is that it can actually help athletes and regular gym-goers prevent injury in the long-term. You can change up your routine and give certain areas of your body a break without fully taking time away from the gym. This is especially important to newcomers who are just framing their foundation for working out and training their bodies to respond to exercise before formulating a fitness plan that’s entirely oriented toward their goal sport.

But the question remains whether this is simply for the benefit of losing weight and being healthy, or if it would actually serve to benefit an athlete who’s training to excel in one area. More on that will be discussed next week; in the meantime, if you have questions about incorporating new target areas to your typical training, be sure to ask one of the highly knowledgeable personal trainers at our Pivotal Fitness Greenville sportsclub.

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