There are lots of ways to boost your fitness, and some are quicker than others. With an abundance of information online, it can be hard to know who to trust…

You read one article, and it says do HIIT training, but then another article says lift weights. Which one do you choose? 

Well, in most cases, it depends on your goals. 

In this article, I’d like to share some tips that will help you move the needle when it comes to pushing your fitness in the right direction. My intention in this post is to help you get faster results so you can achieve your fitness goals quicker than you ever thought possible.

#1 Equipment

There’s plenty of amazing tools to boost your fitness in 2020. For example, you’ve things such as cardio machines, resistance equipment, and lots of things you can do at home. 

In terms of what equipment to buy? 

Well, that all depends on your goals and what you’re looking to achieve. Below I’ve compiled a list of equipment for specific goals:

Cardio – if your goal is to boost your stamina, so you can laster longer then I’d recommend the following equipment:

• Treadmill 
• Bike
• Assault Bike
• Ski Erg
• Rowing Machine
• Cross Trainer 

If you don’t want to spend much money, you could purchase a skipping rope, and if you don’t want to spend any money…then why not go for a jog? 

Lose Weight & Build Muscle – if you want to shed some serious pounds and improve your body shape then I’d recommend the cardio equipment mentioned above, alongside: 

• Dumbbells
• Barbell
• Bench 
• Resistance Bands
• Medicine Ball
• Fitness Mat

#2 Supplements

Supplements can help you take your fitness to the next level. You’ve got supplements such as caffeine, which will boost your concentration and aid fat loss. 

Then you’ve got supplements such as multivitamins, vitamin D, Zinc, Magnesium, etc. I would particularly recommend Magnesium. Magnesium Glycinate will help promote good sleep, which will improve your muscle recovery and therefore help you get more out of your training. 

Many people rely on protein to help build their muscles and aid recovery. Protein is widely available in various forms, such as whey protein and vegan options, but there’s also an opportunity to try other types of protein such as cbd protein powder supplements. Before buying protein powder, I’d recommend reading reviews online, some shakes taste awful. Many companies will offer free samples before buying, which gives you a choice to choose your favorite. 

You’ve also got supplements such as pre-workouts which can give you an extra surge of energy during your workout. Just be careful not to take too much (otherwise you will be bouncing from wall to wall for hours to come). I would also recommend staying away from pre-workout drinks 6 hours before bed (as they will negatively impact your sleep).

#3 Hire A Coach

Rather than spending hours scrolling the internet and trying to figure it all out for yourself, why not pay a nutritionist or personal trainer? 

The fastest way to boost your fitness level would be to higher an expert — somebody who has the knowledge and experience to take you to where you want to go. 

If the gyms are still closed, and you’re stuck in lockdown, then you could do virtual personal training. This is what my clients have done…

An expert coach (providing you follow their advice) will get you results twice as fast, compared to going it alone. Before hiring a coach, make sure to do your research. I would recommend looking at reviews online, testimonials, and check out the results they’ve achieved before investing your hard-earned cash. You also ask your friends for recommendations. 

#4 Create A Goal

If you don’t know what you’re aiming for, how do you know when you get there? The answer is that you don’t. It’s imperative to create a goal, the more specific you can be, the better. 

For example, your goal may be: to lose 28lbs in 6 months and to run a 10k in under 1 hour. That’s a great goal and means you can narrow down what you focus on with your training. For example, to lose weight, you need to create a calorie deficit and therefore choose a diet. To improve your running, you need to run 3-4x per week. You could also hire a running coach. 

#5 Assess Along The Way

You need to be able to assess your fitness along the way. For example, how do you know you’re losing weight if you don’t weigh yourself? Of course, you can go by clothes, which is what lots of people do, but at the same time wouldn’t, it be nice to see the numbers going down? 

Alongside weighing yourself, there are lots of ways to assess your progress which include:

• Speed – are you getting faster?
• Distance – are you able to go further? 
• Reps – are you able to complete more reps?
• Frequency – are you able to train more during the week?
• Recovery – are you recovering faster between workouts?
• Weight – are you able to lift more weight? 
• Technique – are you training with better form? 

You could also do things such as a body fat test, DEXA scan, and get blood work done to check your hormone levels. Either way, it’s crucial to keep assessing your progress and looking to make improvements. 

#6 Consistency

The most common thing that any personal trainer or fitness professional will tell you is that you need to be consistent with your efforts. Going to the gym three days one week and nothing the next week is better than not going at all. However, it’s best to stay consistent. This is the key to success. You will go from strength to strength when you show some real willpower and commitment to your tasks ahead, not for one to two weeks but for months on end.