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11 Ways to Energise Your Workout

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Feeling sluggish as you start to wear your running shoes prior to your jogging session? Too exhausted to face the gym? There are many causes for these: physical tiredness, poor diet, poor mental preparation, not enough rest etc. Here are some tips to help charge yourself up:

1. Drink a cup of coffee about half an hour before exercise. Caffeine, as we all know, helps to stimulate the Central Nervous System and improves the mental alertness. Exercise demands a great amount of concentration and trying to do certain exercises with sleepy mind can be dangerous. The coffee can really perks you up for an intense exercise session. Furthermore, caffeine has been proven scientifically to increase your endurance performance and increase fat-oxidation - good news for those who wants to lose weight. There are those who oppose the use of caffeine as a means to perk you up, stating it could back fire you. For that, you should determine for yourself if caffeine works for or against you.
2. Have a good night sleep the night before if your workout is in the morning. A fully rested body is like a well-charged battery. It can serve you well. If your workout is in the evening, it might be useful to have a nap (10-20 mins is sufficient) in the afternoon.
3. Warming adequately with some light cardio (cycling or brisk walking) followed by a stretching routine helps your body tremendously in anticipation of an intense workout later. It may also help to prevent injuries while exercise.
4. Consider having a training partner to train together or hire a good trainer to train you. This is a very good motivator for those who have problems training alone.
5. If you are training alone, try to visualise your routine before you start. Run thru the exact sequence of the exercises you will be doing mentally. Imagine the same weight you will use, the execution of each exercise, the grunts you will make, the pain you will feel etc. This will help you greatly as you are mentally prepared for the workout ahead.
6. Eat a small carbohydrate snack about an hour before exercise. This will help prevent low blood sugar with its symptoms of lightheadedness, premature fatigue, blurred vision - all of which can interfere with performance. It might also be useful to have a small fruit handy to keep your blood sugar stable and get you til the end of the routine.
7. Don't always do the exact same routine. Change the order you perform the exercises, the weights, sets and reps used, the exercises, the hand spacing etc. Find ways to make it different. Not only will this stimulate your mind, it is very useful for enhancing results.
8. Take in as much fresh air as possible. During the short resting periods, get out of the gym to draw as much fresh air into your body as possible. This is one of the best way to freshen up your mind and body as they are deprived of oxygen when you are training really hard.
9. Listen to your favorite songs with your MP3 player. This is definitely a good way to keep you awake.
10. Always keep your body hydrated throughout the exercise. Nothing zaps the energy worst than a dehydrated body.
11. Remind yourself of the goal(s) you've set. With such reminder, you will automatically be motivated to exercise.