8 Things You Should Do Before Every Workout

Consequently, you may find yourself uninspired while working out, or possibly incur an injury. So to help get you started on the right track, here’s eight steps to help you get the most out of your workout and make sure your efforts aren’t wasted.

Eat for fuel

This of course will vary person to person, and so the timing in which you eat a pre-workout meal or snack depends on your own digestive system and patterns.

As a general rule, consuming something with carbs and protein in an hour or so before exercising should provide you with enough amount of energy.

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Drink plenty of water

Ensure you’re hydrated enough prior to exercising, it will help you to feel a lot more comfortable while working out. Drinking plenty will help you battle things like muscle cramps and dizziness.

Don’t train tired

If you don’t have enough energy to get through a workout, there’s often no point; there’s no chance of you surpassing your previous best performance or goal. Plus, training or weight-lifting in the gym while tired is dangerous.

Drink caffeine if required

While it’s imperative to drink plenty of water pre-workout, you may also find caffeine useful in helping to provide energy and focus. Plus, caffeine is believed to blunt your pain responses slightly, which could prove useful if you’re aiming for a high intensity training session.

Take a shower

Try taking a cold shower before working-out, it will wake you up, help you focus and help to get your blood flowing.

Review your goals

Whether you’re using an app on your tablet or smartphone, or going old-school with a pen and paper, knowing what’s expected of yourself in terms of reps, sets, weights and rest periods will help to remove all guesswork and can help you to work much more efficiently.

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Prepare the music

It does help, there’s no denying that; having a sold playlist ready for your workout is a must-do!

Warm up

Whether it’s aerobic or dynamic, warming up is always a must-do before any work-out to help ensure your body is ready for what’s next. Try not to stretch too much at this point however, as it could compromise your body’s strength throughout. 

We hope these steps help you to make sure you're on the right track in your pre-workout preparation! If you have anything to add or advise yourself, just let us know in a comment below. What helps you to prepare for a workout?