2022 is (somehow) quickly approaching, and perhaps you’re looking for a way to up your fitness game for the new year. You’ve definitely come to the right place.
We asked five trainers for their best fitness tips and pulled tried-and-true pointers from WH over the years. Together, they cover everything from warming up to pre-workout supps, so no matter where you’re at in your fitness journey or what you’re looking to improve on, this list will help you achieve your goals.
1. Start small.
2. Make fitness a way of life.
On a similar note, “the fitness journey is all about creating consistency and finding a way to make movement fit into your lifestyle,” says NCSF-certified personal trainer Elise Young. Like Anjorin, she suggests starting slow and building on your foundation every day. And complete a self-inventory in the morning, she adds, during which you ask yourself what you can commit to that day—a walk? A run? A lift? “Make it a habit to find movement and meet yourself where you currently stand,” Young says.
3. Never skip your warm-up.
4. And make those warm-ups dynamic.
Almonte adds that you should not do static stretching before your workout. (It actually reduces muscle strength and impairs explosive muscle performance, physical therapist Christina Ciccione, CSCS, previously told WH.) Almonte’s faves listed above—along with t-spine rotations, world’s greatest stretch, and forward fold to squat—are all dynamic stretches, she notes.
5. Don't cut static stretching out altogether.
After your workout, static stretching is just fine. In fact, it can help prevent muscle stiffness, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Just make sure you hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds, and don’t go beyond one minute, Almonte advises.
6. Add mobility exercises to your warm-up, too.
7. Strength train at least twice a week.
Strength training is key, Young says. After all, the benefits of this type of exercise are plentiful. “Strength training keeps us feeling strong and empowered,” she says. It also keeps your bones strong, reduces your risk of injury, and improves your cardiovascular health, she adds.
8. Use an aerobic stepper to level up that strength training.
The ’80s favorite is great for exercises that require an elevated surface, like Bulgarian split squats, WH reported. You can also use it to make moves like planks, pushups, and lunges harder. Plus, it can serve as a great bench for exercises like chest presses and rows, according to NASM-certified trainer Stephanie Reyes. Bottom line: There are plenty of reasons to add a stepper to your equipment collection.
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9. Keep your cardio regimen fresh.
10. Combine strength training and cardio properly.
The best way to do so depends on your goals. Basically, your priorities should help you decide on the order in which you do cardio and strength training. For instance, if you want to get stronger, you should do strength training first, but if you want to build endurance, it’s better to start with cardio, according to the American Council on Exercise.
11. Keep challenging yourself.
The body adapts, Anjorin says. So, when it comes to your strength training routine, she suggests continually progressing to force your body to change. For instance, if this week you’re doing three sets of 8 to 10 repetitions of a certain exercise, next week you might level up to four sets of 12. In essence, keep pushing yourself—whether you choose to increase the weight you’re using or add additional sets and reps.
12. Focus on form first.
More isn’t always better, says Angela Gargano, a NASM-certified personal trainer. Better is better. In other words, make sure you master your form while doing basic movements before you add weight or complicate the exercises.
13. Devote yourself to recovery.
14. Maintain good (sleep) hygiene.
This is something that’s super underrated when it comes to fitness, Anjorin says. Sleep is crucial time when muscle recovery happens, and it also (of course) helps you have the energy to actually perform and push during workouts. The evening routine she uses to unwind includes dry brushing, a hot shower, and setting her thermostat to about 65 degrees (which, BTW, is right in the ideal temp range for sleeping, according to the National Sleep Foundation). “And I don’t do screen time prior to bed,” she says.
15. Get in a rhythm with your rest.
Considering sleep is so key for recovery, Young agrees that it’s important to establish quality sleep habits and suggests trying to go to bed around the same time every day. (And, FYI, the CDC also advises waking up at the same time every day—even on weekends—to improve your sleep health.)
16. Lean into active recovery days.
“On days you may not feel like doing anything super intense, I have good news—you don’t have to!” Centenari says. While our bodies are meant to move every day, they don’t have to be driven into the ground every day, she says. But skipping that super-tough HIIT class doesn’t mean you should binge Netflix instead. When your body tells you to chill out, “just listen to it and find that happy medium–go for a walk, do the laundry you’ve been putting off, bake banana bread,” Centenari says. “Keep it light; stay in motion.”
17. Consider yoga.
18. Use a fitness journal to track your goals.
A notebook is a great way to stay on top of your physical and mental health, WH has reported. In fact, writing down and sharing your goals makes it more likely you’ll achieve them, according to a study out of the Dominican University of California. And there are tons of super-cute fitness journals out there to choose from that suit different objectives and regimens.
19. Stay hydrated.
20. Try habit stacking to stay on track.
If you read that last tip and started flashing back to all your past attempts at drinking more water, stay with us—this tip from Almonte might make it easier. Habit stacking, she says, is basically just joining new habits with ones you’ve already got. For instance, you might keep yourself stretching every day by combining it with your morning coffee routine, or help yourself drink more water by linking it to checking emails.
21. And rely on habits rather than willpower.
“None of us are perfect,” Centenari says. “There will be days when pure willpower just isn’t enough to achieve your goals.” The good news: You can still set yourself up for success. For instance, if you want to rise early in the morning for your workout, lay out your clothes the night before, Centenari suggests. “Instead of thinking about doing something,” she says, “make it a tangible task.”
22. Feel free to skip the pre-workout supp.
You don’t need a pre-workout, Anjorin says. Same goes for coffee before your workout. “Just make sure your nutrition and your sleep hygiene are on point,” she says.
23. Eat enough protein.
25 High-Protein Meals That Are Just As Easy To Whip Up As They Are Delicious
Vegan Grain Bowl with Pesto
Sheet Pan Miso Ginger Tempeh
Whole30 Cobb Salad
Paleo & Whole30 Sesame Chicken
Turkey Falafel Meatballs with Lemon Yogurt Sauce
Mexican-Spiced Grilled Chicken with Nectarine Salsa
Sheet Pan Honey Lemon Salmon
Chicken Avocado Black Bean Salad
Healthy Fish Tacos
White Chicken Chili
Korean Beef Bowls
Peanut Butter Banana Protein Pancakes
Skillet Egg Frittata
Mediterranean Grilled Turkey Burgers
Colorful Fish Ceviche
Vegan Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Veggies and Avocado Sauce
Paleo Tuna Salad Nori Wraps
Asian Chicken Quinoa Bowl With Almond Butter Sauce
Buffalo Chicken Egg Muffins
Grilled Pork Tenderloin With Avocado Sauce
Grilled Salmon with Elote-Style Veggies
Thai Tempeh Buddha Bowl
Ginger Chicken Power Bowls With Creamy Lime Dressing
Paleo Slow Cooker Thai Red Curry Turkey Meatballs
Grilled Cheeseburgers
Vegan Grain Bowl with PestoFarro and lentils make this bowl oh-so filling. Double up on the pesto and use the leftovers all week long.GET THE RECIPE Per serving: 480 calories, 19 g fat (3 g saturated), 270 mg sodium, 62 g carbs, 16 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 20 g proteinKELLY JONES NUTRITION
24. But don't stress about the anabolic window.
Good news: You don’t need to sprint for the protein powder as soon as you finish your last rep. “It’s a wider window,” Anjorin says. “So if you don’t get your protein intake an hour and a half after your workout, you’re fine. Your muscles are not going to atrophy.”
25. Remember there's more than one right way to eat.
“Think of eating like you would think of training—your training is dependent on your lifestyle and progress, not anyone else’s,” Centenari says. In other words, don’t fall into the trap of a one-size-fits-all diet. Of course, the trainer adds, there are general guidelines to follow (like avoiding added sugars and highly processed foods). But rather than thinking of foods as “good” or “bad,” consider what will fuel your individual lifestyle, she advises. Anjorin, too, notes that there’s no one ideal diet, and says that the best diet is one you can sustain.
26. Use positive self-talk.
