Attack your body’s extra calories with these quick tips.

Ever have a hard time finding time to exercise? Then wouldn’t it make sense to burn as many calories as you can in your allotted space of time?

Once you find a workout that you feel comfortable doing and one that you enjoy, implement these tricks to make it more challenging. At the same time, you’ll burn more calories and shed more pounds!

Snack First

If you exercise first thing in the morning, if it’s been more than a few hours since your last meal, or if you feel fatigued during your workout, you may be putting your body at a disadvantage. For the best fat-burning routine, you need to fuel your body with a pre-workout snack about 30 minutes prior to exercising.

With enough fuel, you’ll have enough energy for a good workout. The best snack? A combination of protein and carbohydrates. To get this combo, try a banana and half a bagel or a spoonful of peanut butter and a cup of yogurt. If you’re on the run, grab an energy bar. Just eat something!

Exercise in the Morning

Starting your day with a workout gets your metabolism elevated to burn calories faster. As an added perk, this jumpstart to your metabolism will actually continue for several hours after your workout. Also, people who exercise in the morning are more likely to stick with it because it’s not another thing to add to the day. It’s just how you start the day.

A Quick Start

After a short warm-up, it’s normal to start your workout at a slow pace, and then, if your energy level lasts, you’ll likely go on to quicken your pace during the second half of the workout. The truth is, following a warm-up, you’ll burn about 10 percent more calories if you push yourself at the beginning of your routine and finish at a slower pace.

Interval Training

Also called “surge strategy,” interval training alternates between high-intensity cardio exercise and moderate-intensity recovery periods. As opposed to exercising at a steady pace, this method increases calorie burn, improves your fitness level, and enables you to overcome plateaus in your workout.

When you head out for your daily walk tomorrow, spend five minutes warming up by walking at a normal pace. Then push yourself with a brisk walk for two to five minutes. Then slow to a moderate pace for about five minutes as your body recovers. Repeat this pattern of high-intensity and moderate-intensity walking throughout your workout and end with a five minute cool down.

Change Things Up

If you find yourself heading straight for the elliptical machine every day for your workout, it’s time to do something different. When your body tries new movements and uses different muscle groups, it will be forced to work harder and therefore burn more calories than if you were doing the same old thing. Periodically change things up. Go swimming or join a Yoga class. It’ll also help your entire body tone up—not just the parts you love to work out.

Short Cardio Before Lifting

On the days you focus on strength training, it’s important to begin your workout warming up your muscles with a short jog on the treadmill or a spin on the stationary bicycle. Get your heart rate elevated enough to get your blood pumping and your muscles loosened. You’ll be able to lift more and lift for longer. Just don’t push it too hard with the cardio before lifting, as you can zap your energy rather than boost it.

Increase Intensity

Get more out of your workout by picking up the pace. Push yourself harder each day. Go further each day. Add another day to your workout routine. Add hills to your workout whether on the treadmill or outdoors. Walk, hike, or run on uneven terrain or on the sand to use new muscles. Swing your arms to build upper body strength and increase intensity. By doing this, you’ll burn more calories!

Hire a Trainer

If you’re in a rut and aren’t seeing the results you desired from your workouts, hire a certified personal trainer. A trainer will be able to design an exercise program that will fit your fitness level, as well as your fitness and weight loss goals. Once you hire your trainer, don’t treat him or her like a sibling. Treat your trainer like your boss. Do whatever your trainer demands of you and let him or her push you to your limit!

How Many to Burn?

Wondering how many calories you should attempt to burn each time you workout? Talk with your trainer. Using the amount of calories you consume each day and your weight-loss goals, you’ll get a customized routine that will help you meet your goal and keep on burning!

Weight-Management University is HERE!

If you live in the Gilbert area, treat yourself  right by calling or emailing today to get started on an exercise program that will change your  life for the best.

Proper nutrition plays a key role in your journey to a healthy lifestyle and to meet your fitness goals. Planning a well balanced diet can be extremely overwhelming and time consuming. That is why I have teamed up with Personal Trainer Food to help make it easy for you. Click here for more information and when prompted, please type Trainer ID# 8170. When you are ready, you may click here to place your order. The quality of the food is second to none.

Please email me with any questions and visit: https://www.z-physique.com

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