When it comes to getting in shape, there are plenty of benefits. Most people get in shape to clear their minds or get in shape to feel better physically. Embarking on an exercise program is one of the best things you can do to support your health.
The key is understanding what your goals are and what you want to achieve. By doing this you can devise a plan to achieve them.
Here are five common fitness mistakes people make and how you can avoid them.
- Setting unrealistic goals: You should never go from zero workouts to exercising seven days a week. Instead start off with baby steps and grow as you go.
- Waiting until tomorrow to start: Starting can be the hardest part for most people, but you have to start somewhere. Don’t let more than three days go in between workouts. After that third day, it becomes easier to stop altogether.
- Not warming up… or cooling down: Warming up helps prime the body for exercise and helps prevent injury, skipped heartbeats and premature fatigue.
- Not stretching before working out: The best way to preserve your range of motion over the long haul is to stretch regularly.
- Sticking to the same workout: Sticking to the same workout overtime, works against what you are trying to accomplish. If you are trying to improve your overall fitness, then switching up your workout routine once in a while will help you achieve your overall goal.
Setting objective short-term and long-term goals will help you achieve your desired fitness level. Most important, when you exercise correctly, you’ll leave your workouts feeling energized and even “high.” And that’s the best possible prescription to make sure you get your lean body back to the gym – after adequate recovery, of course.
