Good for you for taking action and starting a workout program! Now the real work begins. If you’ve done even a little research you’re probably more than confused at this point.
I’m about to help you cut through the noise by clearing up some of the biggest mistakes beginners make.
1. You try to spot reduce
Pumping out hundreds of crunches — or even hours of planks — won’t give you a flat stomach if your diet isn’t on track. You simply can’t make one area of your body smaller on its own. But you can make your entire body smaller by cutting back on calories and losing weight all over. So plan on a total body workout that includes all your muscles in addition to your favorite ab exercises.
2. You only do cardio
Doing only cardio to lose weight defeats your goal of having a fit body. You may lose weight but you’ll also lose a lot of muscle if you’re not doing any strength training along with it. Contrary to what you might think, strength training doesn't have to be repetitive weight lifting at the gym — there are plenty of at-home workouts that build muscle and you can do whenever works best for your schedule. For one week, aim to fit in three to five sessions of cardio plus two to three strength training workouts for a lean, toned (not flabby!) body.
3. You work out only to lose weight
It’s fine to have a weight loss goal, but if that's the only reason you start exercising, what will motivate you after you lose the weight? You need something to keep you going you every day, since results won’t show up on the scale very quickly. Make a list of the reasons why you want to get in shape. Include goals like, “I’ll feel stronger,” “I want to be able to walk up a flight of stairs easily” or “Carry my kids around without back pain.” Those are incentives that never get old.
These tips should help you get on the right foot. Now go get started!
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