5 exercise mistakes you’re probably making

In a society where the media addresses health issues on a daily basis, people are paying increasing attention to their eating and exercising routines. Regular exercise for a better life and health has become a growing trend. But the truth is, some people could train for months without achieving any satisfactory results. Why? Because there are countless ways to exercise, and if your health doesn’t improve then something must be going wrong. So we've done some research and found that if you avoid these five exercise mistakes you'll improve your ability to lose weight and general health.

Skipping the warm up

Diving right into your exercise routine might seem like the best way get the most out of your session. But doing a proper warm up before starting any exercise routine is vital. For one thing it increases your muscle temperature. Your heart rate and respiratory rate will go right up, preparing your body for more strenuous activities. Another benefit is that your focus and strength will be at their peak, so you’re all set for a good, rewarding workout.

If you're loafing around while everyone else is warming up, you might find your actual workout ends up being more painful than it needs to be. Your muscles will be cold and stiff and suddenly putting them through a vigorous session increases the risk of muscle pull or joint injury. There’s no harm in giving your body a bit of an early push, so always consider taking a five to ten-minute warm up for optimal results; it’s worth it!

Wearing the wrong shoes

Are you just throwing an old pair of sneakers into your gym bag on the way to workout? Not a good idea. It is extremely important to select the right shoes to prevent workout injury and increase your performance overall. Every one of us has a different foot structure and exercise plan, so choose an appropriate type of shoe depending on your feet and the activity you plan to do.

Good shoes reduce the impact from heavy landings and help you perform better. They ensure a firm grip on the ground and protect ankles when you change direction quickly. Wearing the ‘wrong’ shoes can lead to injuries including ankle sprains, swelling and blisters. What’s more, cheap, flat sneakers won't enhance your performance in any way when performing exercises or playing sports.

Using the wrong weights

If weight-lifting is in your plan, you might wonder how much weight you should lift. The answer greatly varies depending on the type of exercise you’re doing. While you could easily lift 10 pounds during bicep curls, you might struggle with them on lateral raises. The ideal solution is to start low, go slow and watch out for signs that you’re not lifting the right weight.

If you could go on forever without breaking a sweat, perhaps it’s time to take it up a notch. If you’re struggling to lower the weight in a slow, controlled manner, then you should go for the lighter ones. A proper weight is moderately challenging and should fatigue your muscles after a few rounds.

Doing only one form of exercise

You can’t expect a well-shaped body to emerge if you're only repeating one type of exercise. If you only work out using cardio, you’ll strengthen your stamina but not really change your overall body composition. Try to balance your exercise with a variety of workouts that target different parts of the body. The key for best results is to devise a weekly schedule that rotates different exercise plans.

Not pushing yourself hard enough

There’s no point in doing a full hour exercise session and coming back to it two weeks later. Consistency in training is a proven approach for a healthy and fit body. Once you’ve exercised constantly for weeks and months, your body will adapt so that you can take your workouts to the next level and exercise at a more intense pace. At this point it’s best to push yourself by adding more workouts to your routine. Remember that now you’ve come this far, you should take a chance to experience change - for the better!

Keep in mind, though, that too much of a good exercise hurts - literally. Going all out in your workouts over a period of time can do more harm than good. If you’re feeling exhausted and ache, take a few days off to give your hard-working body time to recover.

Want to see how proper exercise can boost your health and fitness? Get in touch with us today!