5 Ways to Help Keep Your Workout Real

# 1) Keep it simple

Pack your workout with tried and true exercise - there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Think squats, presses, rows, pulldowns, lunges, planks and more. And that single-leg karate chop bicep curl that you saw on IG? Yeah, you can scrap it.

# 2) Keep it progressive

With every workout, try to outperform your last session. That could mean adding reps, weight, sets, improving technique or decreasing rest periods. Progression does not mean going for a new bicep curl max every workout.

# 3) Keep it fun

Perform exercises that you actually enjoy. Your workouts shouldn’t feel like a death sentence. Unless that’s what you’re about, then, by all means, have at it.

# 4) Keep it consistent

Perform the same workouts for many weeks in a row. Training the same exercises will increase your proficiency and progress over the long term. Say no to your friends who preach muscle confusion.

# 5) Keep it pain-free

Exercises shouldn’t cause joint pain. 99% of the time, there will be alternative exercises that won’t cause pain. Don’t be afraid to experiment with exercise variations.