If you are reading this, it means you have already taken the hardest step and finally decided to hit the gym for a healthy lifestyle. Most first-timers either seek the help of a personal fitness trainer or start copying the most buffed guy they can find. In case you are unable to get a personal fitness trainer, we’ve got you covered. Expert fitness trainers who oversee weight loss programs and design fitness regimens that actually work have unveiled the most common workout mistakes beginners make, and we are presenting them here so you can avoid them and not look like a monkey holding dumbbells at your gym. After all, we’ve all been there, LOL.
1. Don’t Be Overenthusiastic
That’s the same rookie mistake people make when they get their first paycheck. Instead of spending all your money in the blink of an eye, the best practice is to save it and spend wisely. You need to apply the same principle while working out. Most first-timers (specifically, people following a weight loss diet plan) are over enthusiastic and exert all their energy in the first couple of sessions. As a result, exhaustion hits them like a bus. Overexertion can even lead to overuse tendonitis and you may not wanna go to the gym the next time, at all. Like everything, first-timers need to ease into their new routine and gradually push the limits.
2. Don’t Compete Against The Wrong Person
And by this, we don’t encourage you to start judging people, LOL. Humans possess a deep sense of prominence. You may often find yourself working out alongside a much fitter and finer guy or a gal at the gym. Instead of copying their workout regimen and matching weights with them, the person you should actually compete against is yourself. According to the best fitness trainers in the business, the first thing a newbie at the gym can do is set personal goals and gradually beat them. Getting your dream body will take time, and as they say, “Slow and steady wins the race”.
3. Don’t Try To Cram In A Workout
Remember, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. Just like weight loss dieting, you’ll need patience, commitment, and consistency to get the best possible results. If you are running late for a meeting and don’t have time for a complete workout, do not try to cram in an extra session or increase the weights. According to Dr. Derek Ochiai, a sports medicine expert and certified orthopedic surgeon, having a warm-up session before the actual workout is the best practice even for the trained fitness gurus. Make time for your body and add time to your schedule to have a meeting with yourself at the gym. Cramming in workouts can make you feel fatigued all the time, which can be harmful to your muscles and overall health.
4. Drink Enough Water
This really shouldn’t come as a surprise. Keeping yourself hydrated is a basic survival instinct, but if you are on a weight loss diet and working out in the gym, drinking enough water is key. The recommended water intake is between 1.9 and 2.7 ounces a day, and while consuming that amount religiously can become tedious, it detoxifies your body and improves the overall fitness. Our joints and muscles frequently need water in order to prevent stiffness and enhance flexibility. So you really don’t need a fitness trainer to tell you to drink enough water.
5. Don’t Challenge Yourself Too Much
If you think you can lift the same weights your pal Jim can without considering the fact that he’s been working out since 2013, then you are making this classic rookie mistake. Michael Blauner, a celebrity fitness trainer, suggests that everyone needs to start with something they are comfortable with. In his own words:
“You want to feel like you’re working but you don’t want to be incapacitated the next day! I’ve heard many people say that they pushed or were pushed too hard the first time and they never went back to it.”
He further added that it’s okay to take a breather in the middle of your session. It allows a person to learn their limits so they can push themselves further the next time.
6. Always Stretch Before A Workout
Probably the most common mistake people make when they start working out is that they forget to stretch before exercising. According to a famous fitness instructor, a simple stretch like touching your toes can make exercises like deadlifts, squats, and pull-ups a lot easier. The famous physician Scott Gottlieb mentioned that it’s imperative to stretch for at least 10 minutes before the actual workout to achieve great results and reduce the chances of lower back pains and soreness.
We hope these tips help make your workout sessions safer and a lot more fun.
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