Some Helpful Tips To Maximise Your Training Sessions

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Perhaps you’re training for a marathon or you’re about to start your coaching journey by learning new cycling techniques, but there are plenty of ways we can gain an edge over our competitors and feel fitter and stronger when training.

After all, training sessions are hugely important. If you train well, then you’re likely to do well in your respective challenges. Likewise, if you aren’t doing things properly, then your chances of success lessen dramatically. Of course, you can still switch off in the evenings with a watch of Stranger Things on Netflix, a documentary with David Attenborough, or a Football Rules slot gaming session, but there needs to be balance. If you fail to strike up a balance, then you’re likely to hit a few obstacles on your training journey.

One way of establishing a balance is by preparing right for your training sessions. While playing games and meeting friends and family can get in the way, if you’re able to prepare properly and maintain a solid routine, then everything else alongside it doesn’t matter. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at some helpful tips to maximise your training sessions.

 

Consume slow-digesting carbohydrates before training

What we put into our bodies is what we get out of them. With that in mind, munching down on some slow-digesting carbs is recommended. This will not only increase your energy levels, but you’ll be able to train harder and longer as this type of food typically helps athletes unlock more endurance and burn more fat. While many people also consume fast-digesting carbs, they won’t leave you feeling as energetic as eating some slow-digesting cards will. Plan what you’re going to eat on a daily basis before training, and stick to it.

Consider taking whey protein

While this tip is entirely up to you to follow or not, as it can divide opinion, there is notable research emerging that suggests whey protein can make a big difference. Researchers from Victoria University in Australia actually found that athletes who consumed whey protein noticed a series of improvements on everything over a 10-week period, from strength to muscle mass. Usually taken in the morning alongside breakfast and before bed, whey protein is something many athletes are discovering in 2023. While it doesn’t work for everyone, it might be worth trying for you.

 

Train with people

(Image via https://twitter.com/Qinkungchina)

Although this next tip doesn’t take a genius to figure out, not everyone necessarily abides by it. For many, training by themselves helps them to focus and avoid any distractions, which is entirely understandable, but it can also have a negative impact. For example, you might overtrain and feel fatigued if you don’t have someone there to tell you when to slow down and recover. Likewise, training alone can become boring and take the fun out of your respective discipline. Additionally, if you’re training with someone who is better at something than you are, then you’ll potentially learn even more and experience improved results, too.

 

Save cardio for the end

This is entirely dependent on the sport you’re training in, but if you’re spending a heavy day in the gym building up muscle, then be sure to save your running until the end of your workout. In Japan, researchers found that subjects who did cardio before weights struggled a lot. As such, it’s important to focus on your lifting ahead of anything else.

Also consider eating buckwheat pre-workout, adding cocoa to your diet, using forced reps on your last sets, focusing on the muscle you’re training, and training at night.