Top points for making the decision to get fit and healthy! Whether you’re hitting the gym hard every day, or going for a walk 3 days a week, it’s doing your mind and body good. Here’s something to consider though; when people first start exercising or working out, especially if they’re not doing it with the guidance of a personal trainer, they often make common mistakes. And while they might not seem like a big deal, they can be reason why you’re not seeing the results you want.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 workout mistakes – are you making any of these?
1. You’re not stretching enough
Take at least 5-10 minutes warming up before you start your workout, otherwise you could land up injuring yourself. Good warm ups include running a few laps of a circuit, jumping jacks, skipping. Just as important is cooling off after your session, so spend 5 minutes stretching out and loosening up your legs, arms and shoulders.
2. You’re not practicing the right technique
It sounds harsh, but it’s true. If you’re not doing an exercise correctly, there’s little point in doing it at all. Make technique a priority when you start working out, and you’ll see results much quicker.
3. You’re not drinking enough water
When you exercise, especially if the focus is high intensity or endurance, then you’re going to drink much more water anyway when you work out. Don’t leave it there though, make sure you drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated – your muscles need it to stay healthy.
4. You’re not powering up with the right food
What you eat, and when you eat it has a huge impact on your workout, and ultimately your body and fitness goals. Depending on what exercise you’re doing, you want to fuel up around 30-60 minutes before you start. This is especially important for intensive workouts, otherwise you’re going to run out of energy half way through your session. And when you’re done, try and eat within an hour of finishing, giving your body the right fuel during this window stimulates muscle growth.
5. You’re not pushing yourself
A common misconception that people have is that they think as long as they’re moving, they’re going to lose weight. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. If your workout lacks energy or intensity, or it’s too short, it’s not going to be effective. Each week, push yourself a bit harder, for a bit longer, and mix up your workout by doing cardio and weight training.
With sound technique, proper nutrition and professional training (if it’s an option for you), you’ll soon start losing weight and seeing the results you want – plus you’ll be setting a great benchmark for yourself.
Sources: AskMen.com, WebMD