Four Mistakes You’re Making At The Gym

From MommyB Knows Best’s Fitness Correspondent: Four Mistakes You’re Making At The Gym

I do not belong to any fitness center – instead, I use at-home and outdoor training methods to get in shape, build muscle, and burn off excess fat stores. That being said, I (probably like you) have at one point or another exercised in a large fitness center.

The gym can be equal parts annoying, intimidating, overwhelming, and challenging to find motivation – and so many people do things the wrong way when they hit the gym, in the hopes of seeing results.

Below are a couple of brief mistakes that so many people make when exercising at a large fitness center. Read through them, and then ask yourself – how many of these mistakes are you guilty of committing? What about others that went unmentioned? Re-think your attitude, goals and programs at your local fitness center, and experience a more efficient workout!

Doing The Same Workout, Again… and Again… and Again…

This is a huge mistake for many people – they waste a great deal of time, effort and money by not utilizing all the equipment that is provided for them in a large fitness center. It has been my experience that the most popular routine for many people looks something like this:

• Run/walk 2-3 miles on the treadmill (often while reading a magazine)
• Brief Stretching/Abdominal Session
• Occasional light and short weight training session

For some people, that first point can be changed to multiple machines (elliptical, bike, treadmill, etc.) for 10-15 minutes each, until they are complete and finished, but the result is the same – stagnation! Mix up the routine if you want to see results. After all, remember the definition of insanity?

Feeling the Need to Exercise 7 Days A Week

Lots of people use the gym as a negative motivator – that is, they force themselves to go to the gym each and every day, and when they fail to do so, guilt and depression set in from their perceived shortcomings. Don’t make yourself exercise at the gym 7 days per week – if you push yourself to go every day, often times you will not push yourself as hard as you should, and you won’t attempt new exercises. That, in turn, can pull you down into an exercise-related rut that becomes difficult to rise above.

Furthermore, if you use the gym as a negative motivator, and you fail to go, the tendency for many people is to fall further off the wagon – and they compound the inactivity with poor eating decisions, a lack of sleep, and more sedentary activities.

Find a positive motivator, instead of a negative one – a challenge that makes you want to be your best every day, and one that, although difficult, makes you excited and fulfilled as you attempt it!

Exercising With a Cold

Yes, this is a horrible idea – and deep down, we all know that. It is a common misconception that exercising with a cold will make it go away faster; in reality, you are making things worse by exercising at half-strength. Your immune system isn’t running at 100% when you exercise. Instead, it’s working to repair muscles. It is much better to rest and get over a cold before hitting the gym again – not to mention, it is desirable not to infect others with your sickness.

Exercising While Being Rushed

So many people rush to exercise either immediately before or after work. It is difficult to do this all the time or in all situations, but attempt to come to the gym in a more relaxed manner, where timing of the day is not as important as a factor.

By clearing your mind from outside distractions such as your to-do list for the day, you will be able to focus more fully on your regimen for the day, thereby allowing yourself a greater opportunity to see results. The next time you hit the gym, whatever your routine is, I challenge you: do everything differently. Every machine, every exercise, every set – change the pace, number, quickness, or rhythm. Do it for at least one workout, and see how you feel. You may be sore (you should be!), but you’re also avoiding the dreaded stagnation that has probably been building in over months or years!

About The Author: Bobby DeMuro is the Founder of FusionSouth, a personal training/sports conditioning firm in Charlotte, NC. He is also the Executive Director of NoFizz Charlotte, a non-profit dedicated to bringing awareness on the importance of proper hydration. He resides on Lake Norman with his 2-year old boxer, Dakota.