Have You Ever Asked Yourself, “Is My Workout Working?”
By: Danielle Rosario
Have you ever had the thought cross your mind “Is all this time and energy and effort spent working out really worth it?” I’m pretty positive that notion has lingered in the back of all of our heads at one point or another. That’s why it’s beneficial to learn how to know your workouts are working. Time is precious, and knowing how to spot the signs that your fitness routine is working is super helpful.
It’s also important to take into consideration a few things. First of all, there isn’t one standard measurement of time that it takes to see results. Depending on your specific fitness goals and your skill level, it could take 6-8 weeks (for strength gains) or even months1. Instant gratification isn’t going to be your friend when it comes to knowing if your workouts are working.
Additionally, sweatiness and soreness aren’t the best indicators to look at as signs that your workout is working2. You might not sweat in a particular workout, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t effective. And you’re not going to be sore after every single workout and that’s completely normal.
10 Signs Your Workout Is Working (That Have Nothing to Do With Weight Loss)
1. You’re Full of Energy
Contrary to what you might think, a sign your workout is working is that it’s giving you more energy. Sure, immediately following an intense workout you’re likely to feel drained. But the exertion during your workout spurs your body to produce more mitochondria inside your muscle cells. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells — creating fuel out of glucose from the food you eat and oxygen from the air you breathe. A greater number of mitochondria means a greater energy supply for your body3.
You’ll get more energy from waking up an hour earlier for a Lagree class than you would from pressing the snooze button and trying to sleep a bit longer. If you’re wondering, “Is my workout working?” Well if you feel invigorated post-workout then yes, it sure is!
2. You Miss the Lagree Studio When You Skip a Class
If you miss Lagree when you skip a class, well this is another sign your workout is working. This is a different feeling than guilt or shame when you miss a Lagree class. Rather, it’s that craving to move your body on the Megaformer and the feeling of contentment you experience when you complete your workout.
Signs that your fitness routine is working shouldn't include dreading going to classes. Instead, you should desire and want to take the class because you actually enjoy your workout.
3. Your Consistency Is Improving
This might be one of the most important signs that your fitness routine is working. Consistency is the foundation of building good habits, and forming good habits is essential if you want to see results and fully benefit from your workout.
Being consistent with your workouts doesn’t mean you have to work out for hours on end. It’s all about progress and tiny steps, done consistently, that make way for great strides. Start with 10 minutes a day if that’s all you have, then add increments of time to that as you go. Find what works best for you and practice consistency.
4. You’re Happier and Mentally Sharper
Signs your workout is working often aren’t even physical ones. Working out releases endorphins which boost your mood. You get that feel-good feeling after completing a workout.
Elle Woods put it perfectly — “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husband.” Let’s just focus on the first part of that Legally Blonde quote. People that exercise are generally happier.
Because working out reduces stress, it naturally aids in helping you feel calmer and more focused. Exercise not only works out your body, but your brain, too. If you’re thinking with a little more clarity, then you know your workout is most likely working to some degree.
5. Your Posture Is Improving
How to know your workout is working? If it’s helping you avoid a rounded, hunched back and helping you keep your head upright on your shoulders, well that’s one sign.
When your spine and joints are in proper alignment, then you have reduced pain, increased mobility, and improved posture. Keep your spine straight and your chin up, and trust that your workout is working.
6. As Well As Your Endurance
This is a big one, especially because it’s a core principle of Lagree. When you have improved endurance, that’s how you know your Lagree workout is working. At first, you might feel like you can’t make it up the stairs to your home after a Lagree workout. But with time and consistent practice, your endurance will increase and this will no longer be the case.
Starting with smaller increments, whether it’s lower weights, fewer reps, or less time, is a good way to measure your progress. When you increase these variables, it’s a sign your endurance is improving and that your workout is working.
7. You Recognize What Your Body Needs and How Much It Can Endure
A strong sense of body awareness and mindfulness is yet another sign your fitness routine is working for you. When you become more experienced and get into a groove with your workout, you’ll feel more comfortable making your workout your own. That might mean adding in modifications, including progressions, switching out weights that work better for you, and just changing things up slightly.
Only you can truly know how much your body can endure, and you’ll get a better sense of this with time, experience, and of course, consistency. Do a self-check-in from time to time and ask yourself, “Is my workout working?” When you realize you’ve grown to tailor your go-to workout routine to fit the needs of your body, well there’s the sign you’ve been looking for that, yes, your workout routine is still working.
8. You Feel Less Pain and Sleep Better
The more you work out, the less pain you’ll feel and the more sleep you’ll get — and most importantly, the better quality of sleep you’ll get. Multiple studies have been done to support the correlation between exercise and sleep. In a meta-analysis combining data from 14 other studies that was published in the European Journal of Physiotherapy, researchers found that moderate exercise improves sleep quality4.
9. Exercises Feel Easier and You’re Stronger
When you’ve been committed to your fitness routine and the exercises start to feel easier, well that’s typically a tell-tale sign that you’re getting stronger. And increased strength is your body letting you know that your workout is working.
10. You Feel Empowered
And another way to know your workouts are working is that you’ll feel a sense of empowerment. An effective workout transcends your physical body and positively affects your confidence and other aspects of your life. When you feel empowered after working out, it’s a good sign your fitness routine is working.
When Is It Time to Switch Up Your Fitness Routine?
Over time, your body might become so accustomed to something that you sort of plateau. A workout that once brought you amazing results may no longer serve you. If you feel like this is you, then it’s probably time to switch up your fitness routine. This doesn’t necessarily mean finding a whole new workout method, but changing the order of the exercises might be a way to start.
If you were regularly sore after a workout and haven’t been for some time, then that may also be a sign it’s time to change things up. Try adding repetitions, upping weights, or even increasing time. But maybe you do want a complete workout makeover, and in that case you should check out a Lagree class. You’re sure to get a fun, dynamic workout by adding Lagree to your fitness routine.
Mix Things Up with a Lagree Workout
Stay dedicated and committed to your fitness goals. Practice consistency and continually challenge yourself. And don’t forget to be patient when it comes to seeing results. You know the signs that your workout is working, so keep a lookout for those and don’t give up! The benefits that you’ll gain with a Lagree workout are plentiful, so it should be quite simple now how to tell if your workout is working.
Sign up for your first Lagree Fit 415 class here today and see it for yourself!
Sources:
1 How to Know if Your Exercise Program Is Working
2 21 Signs of a Successful Workout That Have Nothing to Do with Sweat or Soreness
3 Harvard Health - Does Exercise Really Boost Energy Levels?
4 19 Signs Your Fitness Routine is 'Working' That Have Nothing to Do With Weight Loss
