Get more out of your workout

Signing up for a gym membership is the first step, and turning up is the next. If you’ve made it this far, that’s already further than most. But we’re guessing you want a little more than kudos, and you’ve got your eye on the prize: being in the best shape of your life. If you want to train yourself the way a personal trainer would without splashing the cash, then these tips from Andrew Wilson, Master Personal Trainer at Aldersgate Virgin Active will help you get more out of your workout.

Functional training for fat burn
‘Functional training is a great way not only to burn fat but to develop strength and build muscle, which will in turn increase your metabolism and burn calories at a faster rate and over a longer period of time. There are many benefits of functional training such as improving joint and muscular instability, increasing flexibility, boosting range of motion and assisting in injury prevention – these are just some of the additional benefits of functional training. By developing these areas you will be able to perform much better not only inside, but outside of the gym. With this new found performance you will be able to push yourself to new limits and burn more fat in everyday tasks that you do.’

Get functional to get fit
‘Increasing fitness through functional training is a fantastic way to improve strength and cardiovascular fitness. Classes such as ZUU (available at selected Virgin Active Health Clubs) are a great way to challenge your body to new limits. The total-body workout has more than 100 moves that are based on high-intensity primal movement patterns. With a percentage of the population leading a sedentary lifestyle we need to move more to prevent injuries and bad posture.’

Don’t neglect motivation
‘Set realistic goals, have a timescale or a plan of when your want to achieve those goals. Have a constant reminder of why you’re doing the training in the first place, and have it saved somewhere where you see it every day. Change your routine every so often to avoid plateauing and increase some of the variables to really challenge yourself if you enjoy what you are doing. Train with a friend or colleague so you can both motivate and push one another.’

Try new things
‘Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Everyone has to start somewhere. Many fitness professionals like myself have started out in a gym just like you…we love what we do and can’t wait to help. If you really have a hard time approaching a member of staff just remember, you could learn something that will revolutionise your programme and gym sessions by attending classes.’

Stay structured
‘With a structured programme you can set goals and achieve them at a much faster rate as oppose to just doing random exercises. Also with a programme you can record certain weights and time spent doing certain exercises so you can see improvements and track your progress. Nothing feels better than looking back over an old photo or gym routine and seeing you have lost kgs in weight or can lift more.’