Are you being as safe as you need to be when you work out? Chances are, you are slipping in at least one area, causing exercise to be an enemy to your body. Shape.com listed four fitness tips that will help you avoid injury while getting your best workout.
- Don’t Forget to Stretch! I am guilty of this so often, because I feel like I don’t have enough time. But stretching is crucial to a workout; giving you more flexibility and you will be less likely to pull a muscle if everything is stretched out. It’s important to stretch both before and after your workout to get the best results.
- Overtraining. Exercising too frequently can have harmful effects on the body. The body needs recovery time, so it is important to let muscles rest. If you work your legs one day, the next day work on upper body strength and vice versa. This will cause your body to get stronger while preventing injuries.
- Doing the Wrong Workout. Shape advises against choosing a workout simply based on its popularity or the fact your friends are doing it. You need to make sure it is a class that will focus on your fitness needs, and most importantly- fit your current fitness level. If you are a beginner, don’t sign up for an advanced kickboxing class. You will more than likely end up hurting yourself, and feeling defeated about working out.
- Getting Dehydrated. You should never do a workout without enough fluids or food in your system. Shape reports that both are essential to complete a workout and keep up your stamina. Drink water or munch on a protein bar before your workout to keep your energy up.
Remember, exercise can be harmful if you are not doing it correctly! Be sure to check out Shape.com for the full article and other fitness tips.
Photo Credit: Shape.com
