So you’ve decided to start a fitness journey? Good for you!

You should be proud of yourself. Not many people have the dedication to make their health a priority.

Beginning an exercise routine can be very daunting, with so many new workouts to learn, a new diet plan to follow, and finding the mental and physical strength to endure and overcome!

I completely understand the stress you’re under, so today I’ll be answering some of the most common training questions every fitness beginner has.

SHOULD I GO TO THE GYM IN THE MORNING, AFTERNOON, OR EVENING?

Finding the perfect time to workout means taking into account your personal preference, daily schedule, and fitness goals.

Both morning and evening workouts have their separate advantages.

Studies have found that those who workout early in the morning are more likely to sleep soundly at night. You could also burn significantly more fat than if you exercise in the afternoon or evening.

Whereas those who exercise in the mid-afternoon or evenings, tend to burn more calories. This is because you’re likely to be more physically alert in the afternoon and evening. Afternoon exercise may also serve as a form of stress relief since hormones are on your side.

In the end, it all has to do with what time works best for you.

I personally enjoy afternoon workouts because they fit better into my school schedule, and I find evening workouts to be tiring. But once you choose your workout time, make sure to stick with it because consistency is key.

WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING SHOULD I DO TO LOOSE WEIGHT?

If you want to loose weight, you have to combine cardiovascular exercises and strength training.

Cardio is very important in burning calories and improving your overall body fitness and health. However, strength or weight training stimulates your metabolism and helps you burn fat even after you’re done exercising.

Both exercises combined together will give you the optimal results you desire.

Remember that if weight loss is your primary goal, you need to work on a good diet too. You could spend hours in the gym daily but if you have poor eating habits, you wont make much progress.

WHAT FITNESS TRAINING HELPS TO BUILD MUSCLE?

Building strength and building muscle are two different things. For women, general weight training is very effective in building strength in the body. However, most women can’t build muscle off weight training alone.

This is because testosterone levels in women are lower than those in men. If you want to build muscle, you need to have a nutrition and exercise plan that complement each other.

For men, a strong and routine weight training program can do wonders for your muscle building.

These exercises should target each muscle group you want to develop. A four day program each week works well with three days of rest (which is when the actual muscle building takes place).

I GET VERY TIRED AND SORE DURING WORKOUTS, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

It’s completely normal for beginners to get tired during their workout. And you may wake up feeling sore all over after a workout day.

As you progress with your fitness journey, your body will become used to these exercises and you won’t feel as tired anymore. Until then, here are some things you can do if you’re struggling to complete a workout;

• Take breaks between each exercise. Short 3 to 5 minute breaks will give your body enough time to recover before the next exercise.
• Don’t exercise everyday. Some people wrongly believe the right way to lose weight is by working out for days on end with no breaks. This is not true. A good exercise routine includes multiple breaks, sometimes as long as 24 hours, so your body can rest and the exercise can begin to take effect.
• Don’t be afraid to tweak a couple exercises if you feel they’re too straining. Once you’re body adapts to frequent workout, you’ll be able to handle tougher exercises.

Remember, it’s all about building endurance.

HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD I SPEND IN THE GYM?

You need to consider your fitness goals, daily schedule and fitness level. If you have a lofty fitness goal, you’ll need to dedicate more time towards it. Similarly, if you have a tight schedule, or if you’re working out for the first time, your gym time will also be limited.

First decide how many total hours you want to spend in the gym each week. I recommend 3 to 4 hours.

Some people may decide to exercise for an hour across four days, while others may prefer shorter workouts that span 5 to 6 days.

For a beginner, I would recommend about 45 minutes in the gym, 4 days a week. After 4 to 5 weeks of following this schedule, you can gradually increase it until you reach a routine you like.

HOW MUCH REST DO I NEED AFTER A WORKOUT SESSION?

Once again, this depends on what your fitness goal is and the exercises you’re doing.

More tasking exercise routines like barbell squats will require long rest sessions of 4 to 5 minutes. Whereas, simpler exercises like dumbbell side laterals or treadmills require only 30 to 40 seconds rest.

If your goal is to burn massive amounts of body fat, its best to take shorter breaks, as this builds up endurance and keeps your heart rate up so you can burn calories faster.

Those looking to increase strength and muscle should have longer rest periods so they can lift maximum weights and exercise to their full capacity.

For beginners, its a great idea to have a full day of rest between workouts. While intermediates and exerts could exercise 6 to 7 days a week.

If you have any other questions or inquires, feel free to drop it in the comments, or contact me.