You’ve finally decided to take on the task of working on achieving that dream physique. The gym membership, the perfect diet, the training schedule and those wicked kick-ass trainers.
Embarking on a new fitness and workout routine is always a new challenge that comes with several roadblocks, which, if you allow it, can and will derail you. Come into the game armed with the attitude that will move those stacks of iron like feathers, and burn those kilometers like a warm knife through butter. More important, information is key. Know the things that you should and should not do.
Here are some common mistakes to avoid on the road toward your fitness nirvana.
- Crash dieting
Simply put, imbibing ridiculously low amounts of food to lose weight is not a sensible proposition. You need protein and carbohydrates to function and get you through your workout. You do not build muscle by eating twigs and half a grape. Making healthy food choices throughout the day is the better alternative to eating next to nothing.
- Being undernourished before a workout
Working out hungry and on an empty stomach does not provide you with the fuel to build muscle and/or put some kilometers on the road. A car needs gas to run. Your body needs food and the nutrients it provides to fuel a workout. You do not want your body to eat into existing muscle stores. Not eating before a workout may make gym sessions turn out flat, uninspired and counterproductive. A light, healthy snack one hour before working out is advisable.
- Not eating after a workout
Your postworkout meal may perhaps be the most important meal of the day. The mentality that eating after a workout puts a workout to waste is as antiquated as a pager. You need protein to build muscle and good carbohydrates to replenish glycogen stores. Not to say that a slice of chocolate cake and a can of soda will do you good. Choose clean food sources rich in protein and whole-grain carbohydrates.
- Wrong technique
You sweat it out for hours and all the hard work is put to waste by wrong lifting technique. Get things right before starting a program. Ask a professional about proper form. Read up and make use of the Internet. Do not go blindly into the weights room and lift on instinct based on what you recall Sylvester Stallone doing in Rocky while training for a fight. Wrong form will most certainly not maximize muscle growth but may also lead to injury that will have you sidelined for prolonged periods. And resting on your sickbed does not get the work done.
- Inadequate recovery time
Okay, you’ve got the focus and the attitude. But remember not to overdo things. Whether it be weights or cardio, adequate rest periods are necessary. It is during periods of rest that our muscles grow. Giving the same body part a grueling workout two days in a row is not a smart move, as you do not allow it time to grow. Just like relationships, things blossom when given the proper space. Give it time to rest and grow. The same goes for running. Our joints, tendons and ligaments need proper time to recuperate. Putting them through hell everyday heightens the possibility of injury. Learn to take a step back, and then take two rapid ones forward.
Focus, enthusiasm and desire are sometimes not enough. We have to know the things we should and should not do. A sea of fitness and exercise myths persist. Know how to separate fact from fiction so you can achieve your goals.
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