In the fitness world, there are so many ‘doom and gloom’ articles that tell us how to know we are seriously out of shape or are not doing enough to ensure our own good level fitness and health. But conversely, there are few publications focusing on the signs that we’re on top of our game and are doing everything right, and thus enjoying a fit and healthy existence. Here are eight signs you’re on the right track.
1 – Your sleep pattern is better. There are several reasons why this is a good sign. First, the sign of an effective and successful workout regime is that you’re tired enough to crash out, sleeping for longer and with less interruptions during your sleep pattern. An unfit person may experience fitful, constantly interrupted sleep as the body’s energy levels are all over the place. But a healthy, fit man will sleep for 7-8 hours uninterrupted whilst the body recovers. Additionally, a fit body produces leptin after prolonged sleep; this is a hormone that regulates and decreases the appetite, thus keeping you slimmer.
2 – Clarity of the mind. This is often overlooked but when we go through the stresses of daily life and don’t exercise, we will very often feel like there is a ‘fog’ in our brains; we can’t concentrate, we feel confused or we can’t multi-task without getting worked up and making mistakes. When we are physically fit, not only does our blood pressure go down, but serotonin is released, giving us a better overall mood. In short, your body gets its mix just right and you’ll have a clear, tuned in mind.
3 – Appearance of muscle. Perhaps the first sign of your workout routine hitting all the marks is that muscle starts to creep in, albeit often covered by a layer of fat. But it’s a positive sign. It means that all the hours you’re putting in and all the right dietary moves are producing visible rewards. Flab and some saggy skin starts to get replaced by the muscles that were always there but just needed coaxing out with exercise and eating well.
4 – Healthier appetite. Instead of craving junk food, you’ll start to feel a more manageable hunger. This is both physical and psychological. Firstly, its because you know that the food you are eating is leading you towards physical fitness. In short, you know you’re doing it right, so you want more of the right food. Secondly, the body becomes more finely tuned as we become fitter; we require more calories to sustain our fitness regime, and this is only effectively obtained through a healthy diet. Specifically, you’ll also feel hungry after workouts. Just make sure you get plenty of decent protein in to convert to energy.
5 – Increased stamina. The more cardio you fit into your exercise, the more your heart and lungs can deal with. You’ll notice you can breathe much deeper and that your heart rate doesn’t rise as much during cardio training or physical activity. Your body is basically working like the fine-tuned machine it was always meant to be.
6 – Loss of excess weight. We already spoke about muscle growth. But as you get fitter and fitter, you’ll also lose some of the excess weight you may have been carrying. This is because your body is converting that fat into energy as you exercise. You’ll also notice that areas you previously didn’t know has muscle underneath are now looking toned.
7 – Lower resting heart rate. With a fitter body, there is less work for the heart to do. When you’re rested, your pulse will be much lower on average than it was before your fitness journey. Not only this, but when you do exercise, your heart rate will still be lower than it was.
8 – Quicker recovery. When everything is as it should be, your body is able to repair microtears much more effectively and any dehydration, oxygen debt or lactic acid build up will dissipate a lot quicker. A fit, healthy body can withstand a lot more, and when it does sustain damage, it won’t generally be as severe and will not last as long.