5 Most Common Fitness Mistakes for Novices
Many Americans choose to exercise for not only the pleasure of doing so but also to stay fit and healthy. But many of these same folks find that their fitness routines aren’t achieving the results they so desire. Whether you’re feeling bored, suffering the consequences of minor fitness-related injuries on a regular basis, or simply seem to have plateaued in your results, there are some likely culprits to your routine. Here are five of the most common fitness mistakes that can keep novices from achieving their full potential.
Cheating on Cardio : Sure, running miles and miles on your treadmill or elliptical may get your heartrate up and pumping, but slouching to support your upper body weight on the machine makes for a poor workout and can impact the muscles in your back. Remember to hold loosely onto the handles of cardio equipment to prevent slouching, and if you choose to read while working out, make sure to take a break from the book every three or four minutes to re-focus your energy and amp up your workout.
Slacking on Strength-Training : We all know that a mix of cardio and strength-training is the key to a well-rounded workout, but many find that their strength-training efforts are suffering from some common mishaps. Slow down your reps to get the full force of your workout, and keep a firm posture on all equipment to ensure that you’re making the most of your reps.
Failing with Flexibility : Cool-downs involve some form of stretching and flexing your muscles for safety and comfort, but many try to stretch before their workout as well. This cold stretching can damage your muscles and cause injury, so safe flexing maneuvers for post-workout times. Also, don’t ‘bounce’ your way into a flexing pose. SImply stretch and hold with consistent effort to ensure that you’re flexing safely.
Run-Down Routines : The biggest reason why folks see their fitness efforts plateau is because their routine becomes too routine. Switch up your exercise routines with different muscle group focuses, and ditch outdated exercises that you learned in highschool, as these may even cause injury. While mixing your cardio and strength-training is essential, even a pattern of the same mixes can cause your efforts to be in vain. Switch it up - you’ll find that you’re more likely to achieve the results you’re looking for while keeping your workout routine fun and interesting. Consider other methods of exercise as well (rather than just spending time at the gym) by adding an interesting activity to your routine such as cycling, hiking, or backpacking!
Weekend Warriors : Sure, working out on the weekends is great, but if you’re sacrificing all of the weekdays for other activities, you’re missing out on some valuable fitness time, and your results will suffer. Don’t take on too much right in the beginning, and don’t try to make up for a full week of missed exercise by becoming a weekend warrior. Space out your routine to be consistent and constant for better chances to achieve the results you’re looking for.
By avoiding these common fitness mistakes, your exercising efforts will more likely yield the results you’re working so hard to achieve.
