Have you decided you’re going to maximize your health and supercharge your fitness this year? Whether you’re training for a marathon, trying to combat health issues, or working to fit into a smaller clothing size, congratulations! Prioritizing your health is one of the most important things you can do for your longevity and quality of life.
Now that you’ve committed to putting your health first, it’s time to figure out how you’ll achieve next-level fitness. If you begin without a plan in mind, you’re more likely to fall short and quit somewhere along the line. To keep that from happening, here are a few tips and tactics that will help you maximize your health.
Get the Right Macronutrient Balance
You need to achieve the right balance of dietary macronutrients to reach ideal fitness. Macronutrient categories include carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. That said, the ideal balance for your needs depends on your fitness goals. For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, a low-carb diet might work best for you. If you’re bulking up with lean muscle, you’ll need to prioritize protein intake.
Trying to keep track of the macros in your food can be an inconvenient and time-consuming process. Fortunately, you can rely on tools to make it almost automatic. When searching for the best macro tracking app, look for something user-friendly. Make sure it includes a huge database of foods and helps you figure out the ideal macro ratio based on your unique fitness goals. Ideally, it should adapt to your preferences and body type.
Make Physical Fitness Goals
Speaking of fitness goals, you need to make some if you expect to transform your body. Trying to supercharge your fitness without a goal is like trying to drive to a destination while blindfolded. Your goals should be very personal, based on your current fitness levels and specific areas you’d like to improve.
When creating goals, be both realistic and optimistic. Set smaller “stepping stone” goals to guide you along the path to your ultimate goal. For example, if your ultimate goal is to lose 50 pounds this year, you’ll need to average about four pounds of weight loss per month. As you reach your goals, reward yourself with $100 toward a vacation, a new clothing item, or something similar. Don’t reward yourself with unhealthy treats or anything else that will sabotage your progress.
Tailor Your Workouts to Your Goals
If you want specific physical fitness results, you need to tailor your workouts to help you reach them. For example, if your goal is to be in a weightlifting competition, you need to prioritize resistance training. If you’re signing up for a marathon this year, endurance training should be your focus. You never want to build a random workout routine without considering how it will help you reach your goals.
If your goal is to build overall health and fitness, the best way to achieve it is by developing a well-rounded workout program. This should include a good mix of strength training, cardiovascular, endurance, and flexibility exercises each week. You might consider hiring a personal trainer who can build customized workouts based on your current fitness level and goals.
Prioritize Recovery
When taking your physical fitness to the next level, it’s essential to listen to your body. Never jump too hard into a new workout routine or you could injure yourself. Instead, ease yourself into new exercises and routines. Focus on your form and prioritize recovery after every workout. These tips are especially important if you’re just getting back into fitness after a long hiatus.
To make sure you’re giving your body enough time to recover, alternate types of workouts. For example, you wouldn’t want to train your upper body two days in a row. However, you could train your upper body one day and your lower body the next. Or you could alternate between weight lifting and cardio days. After every workout, take time to cool down and stretch.
Check In With Your Mental Health
You could have a rocking body and amazing endurance, but it won’t mean much if your mental health is suffering. Your mental health determines how well you’re able to operate emotionally, socially, and psychologically. Most people have minor ups and downs in their mood and general sense of well-being. This is normal and can be influenced by hormones, eating patterns, sleep patterns, and life situations. However, if you don’t prioritize self-care, minor issues could quickly morph into crippling mental health problems.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends prioritizing mental health by reducing stress, connecting with others, and making time to unwind. You should also establish healthy sleep patterns so your body and mind have time to recuperate each day. The relationship between mental health and sleep is well-documented. Go to bed at the same time every evening and rise at the same time each morning to establish solid sleep/wake cycles.
Your physical fitness should always be a work in progress. People who prioritize their health tend to live longer, more fulfilling lives. Plus, if you aren’t progressing, you’re either staying stagnant or going backward. Give these tried-and-proven fitness tactics a try when you’re ready to take your training to the top.
