Your Fitness Routine

"I don't have the time to workout." Sound familiar? If you are like many people, you may feel that with your busy schedule there is little time left over to workout. But with some preparation and planning, you can find the time!

Preparing for the trip to the gym and then planning your routine helps you effectively and efficiently use the time you have. Time isn't wasted in thinking what to do or finding equipment.

Here are some tips to help you get more results in less time when going to a gym.

Preparing for the workout

Picking the right time of day

Picking the right time of day to use the gym can help you use your time more efficiently. If it is possible to do so, use the gym when there are fewer people. Check with the manager of your gym to find out these hours, and if possible, try to workout during that time. By doing so, you'll spend less time waiting for equipment.

Walking, running, or biking to the gym

Transportation to and from the place of exercise can be time-consuming. If your place of residence or employment is near the gym, you could walk, run, or bike to the gym as part of your aerobic exercise plan, and therefore not have to use the gym's aerobic exercise equipment. By walking, running, or biking to the gym, you save time and aggravation in fighting traffic and finding parking and waiting for available aerobic equipment, especially at a busy time of day.

Keeping workout clothes and equipment available

Keeping your workout clothes and equipment readily available and in good repair saves time in fixing or finding precisely what you need. Always keep a bag with post-workout essentials in your car if you workout away from home. This should include a towel, water bottle, underwear, and a complete set of workout clothes. If gloves or weight training belts are worn, spares can be kept in the car as well.

Showering at home rather than at the gym can also reduce your total time at the gym, if your home is your destination after exercise. However, for those of you who exercise before work, using the gym's facilities can save time if you go to the gym in workout clothing and bring work clothing to change into with you. In addition, those who exercise before work arrive there more alert, in a better mood and already having performed their exercise for the day.

Planning the workout

Using the equipment and choosing the exercises

Using the same piece of equipment or same amount of weight for different exercises can save time as well. Alternatively, choose exercises using equipment close in proximity, especially if they are to be alternated.

By doing this, it is less likely to have equipment appropriated by other people and have the schedule of exercises interrupted. If the routine flows smoothly, much time is saved.

If possible, arrange the equipment before beginning the routine so it is ready for use. This eliminates the need to load or unload weights or change machine settings or find equipment at the last moment.

If people are using equipment you want to use, you may ask to use it between sets or find another exercise for the same muscle group. Standing around waiting for equipment to become available is a waste of time if you are in a hurry, so have alternative exercises in mind for your routine.

Also, if you continuously change from treadmill to bike to stair climber, you may waste time waiting for or resetting available equipment. While cross training will prevent over-training and boredom, you could be more efficient by changing aerobic exercises from day-to-day rather than doing so in the same workout.

Over the course of each week, try to improve all aspects of fitness, since all areas affect the others to some degree. Follow these principles and reasonable fitness goals can be achieved

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