There are many reasons why someone may want to start or change their fitness routine. Some might be looking to lose weight, while others might want to build muscle and see changes in their body composition. Still, others might want to improve their cardiovascular health or become more efficient runners or cyclists. No matter your reason, staying fit is not without risks. There are some things you can do to make your workouts healthier and more productive, as well as safer and more pleasant overall. Here are 8 tips on how to make sure your fitness routine preserves your health at all times.
Stop the guilt trip
Motivation is not something that you can force. There is no such thing as being motivated to exercise day after day. Instead of thinking in terms of motivation, you need to make fitness a habit by creating a schedule. Indeed, making fitness a part of your day-to-day life begins with the creation of a fitness schedule. When you put it on the calendar, you essentially set a deadline for it. The most important thing is to make a schedule that works for you and stick with it! Indeed, the number one mistake of new gym goers is to blame themselves for not being motivated. Motivation has got nothing to do with building good habits. It’s good to set an appointment with yourself, so you can’t skip your workout because you are too busy or don’t feel like it.
Say no to injuries
One way to make your fitness routine healthier and more productive is by working with a personal coach who can teach you the right form and gestures. This will help you avoid injuries while ensuring that your workout reaches its full potential. A coach can also help you understand your body, so you know which movements work for you and which don’t. Following online workout plans is the best way to get hurt:
- No set to your personal fitness levels
- Nobody to correct you
- The person who designed the workout may not be qualified
- Nobody to help adjust movements to what you can do
Most fitness injuries in the gym are the result of inexperience and faulty workout routines.
Don’t do it for the ‘gram
Sure, everybody wants to share something amazing online. But doing tricks for Instagram fame is the last thing you want to do. Influencer behavior on social media can be risky. People are willing to risk it all for the perfect shot or video. When it comes to fitness, attempting stunts or acrobatics is one of the last trends. However, while pros can make it look easy, acrobatics requires training. Did you know that one of the leading causes of broken teeth is a failed stunt? Breaking a bone is painful, but bones grow back. When it comes to your teeth, you may require extraction before having all-on-4 dental implants to restore your teeth. So, don’t attempt anything you can do for temporary fame!
Equipment must be safe, not just cool
If you join an activity where you need specialist equipment, such as special trainers or a helmet, make a priority to purchase:
- Items in your size
- Items that are designed with safety in mind
- Items that can meet your unique needs
Injuries due to faulty fitness gear are a lot more common than you think.
Another problem with fitness equipment is understanding how to reset it when you’re done. While it may look cool in a picture, nobody wants misplaced equipment. It’s easy to forget that everything in the gym has the potential to be hazardous if not replaced properly, so it’s important that you keep these safety tips in mind as you’re exercising: Always put your weights back on the rack when you’re done using them. Even if it seems unlikely that anyone will take them off, it only takes a second for an accident to happen, so don’t take any chances.
Don’t skip recovery
Recovery time is just as important as working out to maintain your health, so make sure you’re taking the time to rest between workouts. Sometimes we’re too excited about what we’ve achieved and want to keep going for more, but that can lead to injuries or a drained body which will make our next workout less effective. So, take some time off in-between workouts to recharge!
Ban unrealistic goals
I want to lose two dress sizes by the end of the month.
I want to lift twice my body weight before next year.
Setting unrealistic goals will only cause pain, both emotional and physical. So instead of aiming for the moon today, set goals that are achievable to help you stay on track with your fitness routine. When you set realistic goals and have a clear end in sight, then you’ll be more likely to follow through with your plan, even when life throws a curve ball in your path. More importantly, little goals are easier to achieve, so you can move faster to the next goal.
Avoid crash diets while exercising
Crash diets are not sustainable, so any weight you lose will come back as soon as your body stabilizes. Crash dieting to lose more weight through your fitness routine is the worst thing you can do to your body. Not only are you unlikely to stick to your diet in the long term, but you could also be causing serious injuries. Indeed, you need to fuel your muscles with the right nutrients to ensure you can stay strong during your fitness journey. Your muscles need energy and nutrients to heal after a workout.
Forget no pain, no gain
Forget the saying no pain, no gain. This is a myth that we have been hearing for decades. Pain is no promise of progress. On the contrary, pain is a sign your body is giving you to stop!
Delayed onset muscle soreness, which occurs after a workout, is your sign to give yourself a rest and recover with gentle activities.
Sharp pain as you exercise indicates that your muscles or joints are going through excessive pressure. The only thing you can gain if you push further is an injury.
Fitness can be a source of pain, both physical and emotional if you are not careful. It’s time to bring back fitness as a tool for enhanced health rather than something that could lead to suffering!