Six Common Mistakes Stopping You from Achieving Your Fitness Goal

In order to get your body in great shape it is important to go about your fitness regime properly.

There are fitness mistakes that can limit your results and slow down your progress. Find out whether or not you are guilty of any fitness mistakes by going through this list of the most common ones.

1. Following an easy exercise routine

If you frequently find yourself getting frustrated with the results of your exercises, then it may be time to step up your game or to change your exercise program. Ask yourself whether the routine has become too easy for you.

The “no pain, no gain” adage may seem overused and cliché, but there is great truth in it.Have you ever tried a certain exercise routine and found it difficult for the first few times, but then, found it already too easy after a couple of weeks? If you are starting to feel this way, then you may have to change your exercise routine according to your current fitness level.

For example, if you are already finding it easy to finish your 30-minute brisk walk or jog, then you may want to increase the intensity by running. Another way you can get out of your comfort zone is to try out a new type of exercise or machine. Instead of using the treadmill you may want to try a rowing machine. This can also add some variety in your exercise sessions, and make it more fun.

To guide you, here is an estimate of how frequent the routine should be changed. Beginners usually take around 12 weeks. For those with a higher fitness level, it may take around six to eight weeks. For those who are already advanced, it may take only around four to six weeks.

2. Overworking your body

Do not overwork your body by doing as many exercises as you can in a day. If you are following an exercise routine appropriate to your fitness level, then that may already be enough. If you overwork your muscles, then you may injure yourself. You can get a sprained ankle or even a torn ligament. Then, you will not be able to continue exercising as you need to rest first in order to fully recover.

It is better to perform a few sets of repetitions regularly than pushing your body too much.

3. Neglecting some parts of your body

It is common for a lot of people to ignore certain parts of their body that they are not interested in. Some men and women, for example, tend to skip exercises aimed to build muscle in the legs. You may have seen a couple of them who only seem to be working out their upper bodies at the gym. What they do not realize is that the majority of our muscles are located in our lower body. In fact, the quadriceps alone is made up of four muscles already. This means that by exercising our legs, the body can release more growth hormones to help build muscles even in other areas. In addition to that, since there is a lot of muscle mass in the legs, then you can burn more calories by working it out.

4. Focusing only on a single part of your body

Related to the previous point, focusing only on a single part of your body will not do you any favors. You may only want to get rid of your love handles and get toned abs instead, but that does not mean you should limit yourself to sit-ups and crunches every single day.

Do you think that it will feel and look great if only one part of your body is toned? Try exercising your entire body in order to keep every muscle group fit.

5. Not taking the time to stretch

Stretching can improve blood circulation in our body. This means that blood and oxygen will be able to reach the muscles getting worked out. By taking the time to stretch, you can prevent injuries. It will only take around five minutes at the start of your exercise routine.

6. Not properlytaking care of your body

Gettingproper care for your body means having a balanced diet, drinking enough water and getting adequate sleep.

For example, if you keep doing exercises for the abs but you still do not see the results, then your muscles may still be covered by the layer of fat you have accumulated from bad eating habits. If you want to see optimum results, a good exercise program will not be enough. You will have to make a few changes in your lifestyle in order to become healthier.

Another common way to not properly take care of your body is to give it too many treats too often. After briskly walking for around 30 minutes, you might feel the urge to treat yourself to a small tub of ice cream or to a couple of cupcakes. You might have burned around 300 calories during your exercise routine, but getting too many treats can make you gain 600 calories. Keep your sweets to a minimum. This way, you can also enjoy the food more.

Changing a few things in your diet may be difficult and may take a while. On the other hand, drinking enough water can be easily done. Our body needs water in order to execute most functions, and this includes burning fat.

The rule of taking in eight glasses a day may be too general. A better rule might be taking in one ounce of water for every pound in your body. For example, if you weigh 125 pounds, then aim to drink at least 125 ounces of water a day.

Aside from taking in healthful food and adequate water, getting enough sleep is also important. While sleeping, the body is able to recover from the hard work you have done all day. As soon as you start taking good care of your body, the results of your hard work at the gym will be more noticeable.