fitness mistakes-related stories
Are you making these 3 fitness mistakes?
Exercise is one of the greatest gifts you can give your body -- as long as you do it right. Check out these three fitness mistakes, guaranteed to up your risk for strain, soreness, and injury.
- Forgetting to warm up and cool down Warming up reduces the risk of injury, and stretching after a workout prevents soreness. Be sure to stretch right, though -- improper stretching can be just as dangerous as not stretching at all. A basic rule: Don't bounce. It will cause tears in your muscles.
- Not cross-training You've got to mix it up, because doing the same thing over and over again results in overused and strained muscles. Get a well-rounded workout by practicing a variety of cardio and strength training activities.
- Engaging in improper form Don't rush through your workout. Pay attention to quality, not quantity, so you don't strain your muscles. Ever blast through a set of crunches and feel all sorts of pulling on your neck? Bad form, indeed.
Fit Factor: What not to do
You've taken the all-important step of establishing a workout routine, and getting active is never a bad thing, but there are some things you need to keep in mind when working out at the gym, both in the interest of results and your personal safety. Here they are in no particular order:
5) Weight overload: Some people are naturally competitive, and feel the need to impress people with the amount of weight they can lift. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, as I am a tad competitive myself and believe that occasionally, some healthy competition can be a good thing, as it keeps you on your toes. However, competition is not helpful when you're hurting yourself to beat the other person. I heard a personal trainer once give this rule of thumb: If you're not struggling at all, you need more weight; if your muscles are shaking badly, you need less. Don't try to be a tough guy (or gal) -- stepping down for the sake of your body is just as noble.
5) Weight overload: Some people are naturally competitive, and feel the need to impress people with the amount of weight they can lift. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, as I am a tad competitive myself and believe that occasionally, some healthy competition can be a good thing, as it keeps you on your toes. However, competition is not helpful when you're hurting yourself to beat the other person. I heard a personal trainer once give this rule of thumb: If you're not struggling at all, you need more weight; if your muscles are shaking badly, you need less. Don't try to be a tough guy (or gal) -- stepping down for the sake of your body is just as noble.
