six steps to a better workout

6 SIMPLE STEPS TO AMP UP YOUR WORKOUT

Finding time to work out can be difficult. The following tips will help you become as efficient as possible.

1. Skip the chitchat.It's true that the gym can be a social place, but spending hours chatting with friends and only 15 minutes working out can be a time-sucker. If you intend on socializing at the gym, work out first.

2. Plan your workout..To keep from burning more time than fat, carefully anticipate how you will go through your workout routine, and then stick to the plan. Doing so will save you from roaming around the gym with no purpose thinking about what you're going to do next. You can also time your sets and rest periods, and set rep targets within the allotted time slot. There's nothing like a deadline to make you push yourself.

3. Replace cardio with interval training.It's true that the gym can be a social place, but spending hours chatting with friends and only 15 minutes working out can be a time-sucker. If you intend on socializing at the gym, work out first.

4. Mix up your fitness routine.If you usually run, take a day off and try a Zumba or Pilates class. You never know, you may like something else better.

5. Exercise when resting.Instead of waiting between leg press sets, for example, do your leg press sets, then do some leg curls, and return to the press. Cycling between exercises with minimal rest not only gets you through faster, but also intensifies your workout—pushing your muscles, strengthening your cardiovascular system, and burning more calories.

6. Work out vigorously.If you want better results, you've got to make your workouts more intense. Increase your goals little by little, and as you work out, do that extra rep that seems like a stretch. Just don't overdo it, and make sure to stretch and warm up before intense exercise to minimize injury.

Enjoy these tips while you save yourself time at the gym and get results that make you feel better.