How To Start Working Out For Beginners
People have varied reasons to start working out. Some want to look more attractive. Others want to have the energy to keep up with their children. A health scare is another reason beginners often start. Novices frequently make crucial mistakes when they first begin. Those errors can set them back for months or even cause them to quit. Here are a few of those and ways to avoid them.
Don’t pull a Rambo when you start.
It happens all too often. Someone who never did anything more athletic than run to the kitchen for more snacks suddenly thinks they can compete with seasoned athletes. Put away your ego and take it easy. You may be able to push harder the first day, but you’ll pay for it for the week afterward. Start slowly. Don’t overdo it initially, or you’ll be too sore to do anything for a week. There will be plenty of time to push yourself later as you get fitter.
Focus on your form.
Sure, you want to do 100 squats or lift that extra ten pounds, but your form may suffer. The correct form is vital no matter how fit you are. Doing an exercise wrong diminishes the benefits and may cause injury. It’s even more important when you’re doing weight training. If you push too hard and try to lift too heavy, it magnifies the problems with your form and causes muscle strain and tears. Use a trainer, friend, or exercise in front of a mirror to ensure your form is correct.
Don’t forget to warm up and cool down.
A few minutes of warm-up exercises prepare both the muscles used and your cardiovascular system to exercise. Warm-up exercises should be dynamic stretches that mimic many of the movements you’ll do during your session. If you’re running, do calf stretches, pace, or jog. Lower body warm-ups can include jumping jacks and leg swings. Cool-down exercises help boost recovery and prevent blood from pooling in the extremities. One example is slowing your pace when running and walking for a few minutes.
- When doing strength training, rest the muscles for 48-72 hours between sessions. That doesn’t mean you stay at home on the couch. You can work other muscles or do recovery workouts.
- Make sure your workout program includes all types of fitness. It should have cardio, strength, flexibility, and balance exercises. To be truly fit, you need all four.
- Track your workouts. Winners keep score. You can identify where you’re progressing and whether the exercises you’re using are helping. Track the progress toward your goal. If it’s to lose weight, track your weight.
- Always check with your healthcare professional first before starting any exercise program. If they give you the okay, create attainable goals and an outline of how you’ll achieve them.
For more information, contact us today at Iron Fit San Antonio