When building a better workout routine, think like a gym rat

You may scoff at the meathead who's angling to become the next cast member of "Jersey Shore" or at the cardio bunny who's always hogging the treadmill, but these dedicated gym-goers know a thing or two about working out. For all their eye roll-inducing behaviors, the exercise-obsessed are, if anything, efficient, consistent and cut.

Luckily, you can cherry-pick the best of their habits to amp up your own workout, while ditching the excessive grunting and posturing.

Here are gym-rat habits worth adopting for bigger gains and faster results:

Gym rats don't just count their sets and reps, they monitor how much downtime they're taking between sets, too. "If you change the rest interval, you basically change the entire program," said Alywn Cosgrove, author of "New Rules of Lifting: Six Basic Moves for Maximum Muscle." "Your ability to do the next exercise is dependent upon your ability to have recovered from the first exercise."

Optimal rest times vary according to your goal. If you want to develop sheer explosive power, rest for at least 3 minutes, allowing for full recovery. If you want to train for endurance or bigger muscles, 30 to 60 seconds should be enough. This rest time also is associated with a spike in human growth hormone levels.

You're not alone if you're wary of being the gym geek, referencing a book after every set throughout your routine. But having a plan when you start exercising can transform your workout — and your body. "Failing to plan is planning to fail," said Charles Staley, a strength and conditioning coach based in Phoenix and author of "Muscle Logic." "There are a million ways to structure your training, many of which work, but you can become paralyzed by all the options. If you come in with a plan and work within it, you'll see better results."

In other words, don't improvise — strategize. Find a workout tailored to your goal before you set foot inside the gym. If you're hoping to burn fat during your treadmill session, adopt an interval training plan. For bigger strength gains, change up your rep ranges every two to four weeks, or as frequently as every workout.

A review in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that those who self-monitor — whether through food diaries, exercise logs or daily weigh-ins — are more likely to lose weight than those who don't maintain a log. "With a smartphone you can keep a digital version, but it's easy enough to track with just a pen and paper," said Cosgrove. "All my trainers are required to log every workout with our clients. We record the exercise, the sets, reps, load used and rest between sets."

Planning on becoming the next mayor of your gym on Foursquare? Make like a gym rat and schedule your workouts in the morning. If you hit the gym early, you'll hit it often, since morning exercisers are less likely to skip out on their workout routine. In addition to improving your consistency, early-hour workouts have benefits that last throughout the entire day.

Not a morning person? The secret to rising early is simple: Go to bed by 10 p.m. the night before and plan ahead. "When I want to train in the morning, I'll set my workout clothes out at night, set the coffee to go off before I'm even out of bed and have my workout written down, my iPod and my water ready to go on the kitchen counter," said Kara Mohr, owner of Mohr Results in Louisville, Ky.

Before you poke fun at the guy guzzling whey powder by the canister, consider this: Your body is more sensitive to nutrient uptake right after a workout, so your post-exercise meal is crucial to recovery — and results. University of Texas researchers found that eating a carbohydrate and protein snack is better at building and repairing muscles than refueling on carbs alone. When you work out, muscles tear and break down and your body starts burning its ready energy supply. You need carbs after your workout to restore your glycogen supply, but it's the protein that helps build and repair your muscles.