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Why it’s not working out even though you are
You’ve been hitting the gym regularly and following your fitness routine to the T, and yet, you can’t see results.
There are few things more disheartening than not achieving your workout goals even after you’ve put in the work. The reason? Fitness is a lifestyle, not merely a workout plan.
You may have heard the phrase “Nourish your body, don’t punish it.” If you’re struggling to meet your fitness goals such as losing weight, toning your muscles, and getting stronger, you might in fact be punishing your body unknowingly.
From not getting enough sleep to a lack of diversity in workouts, there are many bad habits that delay a person's body transformation.
“When I got into fitness, I quit socializing. My friends would drink, wake up late, and stay up late. I realised that my social circle was making me unfit,” says fitness influencer Tarun Gill.
In order to build a healthy lifestyle, he suggests surrounding yourself with people who already have one.
With Gill’s help, we’ve listed out five unhealthy habits that might be getting in the way of your fitness, along with ways you can overcome them for a faster route to your dream bod.
It’s 2021, and we all know that abs are made in the kitchen. But what’s the point of following a healthy diet if you’re just going to cheat on it every chance you get?
“The diet isn’t the problem, the snacking is,” says Gill. The munchies you go hunting for in the kitchen between meals might just be the culprit here.
This is not to say that you don’t deserve a cheat meal – you do. “Give that reward to yourself only after you’ve earned it,” he recommends.
There are only so many hours in the day and it can be difficult to squeeze in time for work, play and your daily workout. Don’t let your sleep schedule pay the price for your busy routine.
Without the required rest and recovery over a prolonged period of time, human bodies tend to go into fight or flight mode, thereby causing an imbalance in hormones.
So, move some things around if you have to – go for a shorter run, cut back on social media, or hang out with your friends only over the weekend – just make sure you get your eight hours of zzz.
Remember being a kid and staring at a textbook without registering any information? Working out without being in the zone is kind of like that.
“If you’re constantly on the phone or talking to friends when you’re at the gym, you’re not mentally present. There’s no mind to muscle connection,” says Gill.
He recommends shortening the duration of the workout to ensure you give it your hundred percent, with both your mind and body.
Another reason why you may feel like you’re mentally detached from your workouts is because they’re getting too monotonous. In order to stimulate your mind, you need to be able to have fun while exercising.
If that means switching up your fitness routine every day of the week with strength training, cardio, yoga, and maybe even a little bit of dancing, so be it.
What’s more? Diversifying your workouts also ensures your muscles don’t plateau.
Ever tried doing a plank with your butt to the ceiling or your torso on the floor? It’s super easy – and extremely useless.
Without the right technique and form, the exercises you’re doing will not have the desired result.
If you’re a beginner, it’ll be useful to invest in a trainer or a coach to show you the ropes.
You can also find a workout buddy to keep an eye on your form when performing weight training exercises such as deadlifts.
[ Via GQ India ]
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