If you’ve made the decision to join a gym and begin your journey towards being the best version of yourself, then first of all, congratulations!

The first step is always the hardest, and now you’ve taken it, you can have confidence that at some point in the future, you’ll realize that you’ve elevated your life in more ways than you can count.

But when that moment will arrive will depend on a few factors. It could be three months, or it could be one year.

The most influential aspect will be how much you’re getting from your workouts.

If you get the most, then you’ll see results in a month or so. Here, we’ll offer some handy tips on how you can extract the most value from your gym workouts.

Go To The Gym Regularly

There’s no point in having a gym membership if you’re never using it! The biggest indicator of success is how frequently you’re going to the gym.

You might think that having a super intense workout once a week will push you forward, but it won’t push you as far as having a moderate workout four times a week.

Make a habit of going every couple of days, at the same time, so that it just becomes part of your routine. 

Mix Up Your Workout

Most people just use the equipment they’re comfortable with or the ones that they feel will lead to their desired results.

For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, then you might spend all your time in the cardio section of the gym.

That’ll help you to a degree, but it won’t be as effective as having a varied workout that uses all of your body.

In the case of losing weight, it’s recommended to spend some time in the weights section, since the increase in muscle mass will accelerate your metabolic rate, which in turn will help you to lose more weight.

It’s also recommended to focus on the whole body, rather than just the specific point you’re trying to improve. 

Work With A Personal Trainer

It takes expertise to get the most from a gym workout, and that’s an expertise that most people don’t possess.

There are a lot of weird-looking machines and tools in a gym, and you can’t expect to know what to do with them if you’re new to the world of gyms.

Also, people work out for different reasons, so it’s not as if you can just see how someone else uses a machine and follow their lead. It’s highly recommended to work with a personal trainer, even if it’s just for one session.

They’ll help you to put together a training plan that has been specially created with your objectives in mind. 

Watch What You Eat

What you do in the gym is only half the battle. The other half is based on your intake. In order to maximize your results, it’s essential to think about what you’re consuming.

If you’re trying to gain muscle, for example, you’ll need to spend time lifting weights and eating plenty of protein-based meals.

But if you’re trying to lose weight, then you’ll be running on the treadmill and consuming meal replacement shakes for weight loss and drinking plenty of water.

In fact, it’s best to think of your diet as the foundation of your health, with the gym providing the bonus. 

Work Out Consciously 

If you’ve ever been to the gym, you’ll have seen people who look like they’re just going through the motions.

They’ll have told themselves they’re going for thirty minutes, and while they may be there for that amount of time, they’re actually spending half of the thirty minutes staring at their phone.

You’ll get the most from your workouts if you’re consciously working out. You should feel the strain in your arms, legs, or whatever part you’re working out.

And you’ll feel a lot better once you leave if you know that you’ve pushed yourself a little.

Always remember: if you don’t need a shower after your workout, you have not pushed yourself enough. 

Steadily Progress 

Finally, remember to steadily increase the intensity of your workouts.

You’ll be able to lift heavier weights after a few weeks of going to the gym. It’s important to be aware of when you’re ready to step up.

Think of your journey towards reaching your fitness goals as a journey, with each intensity increase representing a mile.

Over time, you’ll realize that you’ve come much further than you thought was possible when you started.