SIGNING up for that gym membership is a step in the right direction. We are stepping up to the plate ready to take a swing at our fitness destiny. Cardio machines are in placed, weights are ready to be re-arranged and the exercise classes seem interesting enough.
We have a general idea of how to get things done and are all set to spring into action. That being said, here are some things we should avoid doing at the gym.
Lifting with improper form—There should be no guess work when it comes to lifting weights the right way. We can’t simply pick up a barbell and work on it intuitively. There is a proper way to perform an exercise, and the best one to show us how to do it is a certified fitness professional. Let’s not go about this on our own. Lifting with improper form, at the very least, is a waste of our energy. On the extreme end, we risk serious injury to ourselves.
Listening to bad advice—There’s this person who is freely dispensing advice; telling you what to eat, when to eat, how you should eat in order to lose weight. Or telling you that lifting with lighter weights equals definition and heavier weights leads to bulk. Let’s not believe everything we hear in the gym. Bad advice, if followed, may lead us to doing things that do not add value to our fitness goals. Learn to discern.
Not following a system–With all the equipment available at our disposal we are tempted to just jump into the thick of things and use the equipment according to what we feel like doing. Jumping from one piece of gym equipment to the next without following a system. This is not the way to go. Have a program created by a credible fitness professional, and stick to it.
Not returning weights/equipment—This falls under the category of proper gym etiquette. Too many times, people will use a piece of equipment and just leave it lying around. Others would load up a bar with heavy plates and not return the plates after they’re done. Let’s not be that person. As with all the things in life, let us be considerate of others. Being mindful in everything we do—and that includes working out—makes things better for everyone.
Walking barefoot—Gym showers and locker rooms are no place to walk barefoot. No matter how upscale your fitness club is, the damp recesses of locker rooms may be a veritable ecosystem of thriving bacteria and fungi. From simple athlete’s foot to a life-threatening case of cellulitis, there are many other skin ailments we can contract by walking sans protection in gym lockers.
Knowing what things to avoid doing can be a powerful tool in helping us reach our respective fitness destinations.
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