By We all want to be healthy and look good, but not all of us have enough time and money to hit the gym three times a week. On the other hand, who says you need to go to the gym to get fit? Working out at home is an option which will allow you to save both time and money, and more and more people choose this option over a gym membership. On the other hand, when you work out at home, you risk making mistakes and having no one to help you correct them. We present you with a list of the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.
You don’t follow a program
If you’re not a fitness trainer, you probably won’t know which groups of muscles you should target and engage in order to get the best results. Some things are logical – squats for stronger legs and glutes and crunches for killer abs, but it’s important to know which kind of exercise will help you reach your goal. You should make sure you know what you’re doing, and you can do this by simply following a workout program designed to suit your needs. It doesn’t matter if you want to tighten your arms, abs or glutes, there will always be a program that’s great for you.
You work out alone
You might be a loner who enjoys flying solo, but when it comes to working out, you’ll discover that you’ll get the best results if you have a workout buddy. You will find motivation much easier if you start working out with a good friend, and you will see how much you’ve managed to do if you monitor each other’s progress. While it may be more calming to exercise by yourself indoors, a good company will motivate you to do more, work harder and push your limits. You will be able to spend some quality time together, while you’re warming up and working out, which will improve your social life.
You’re not using equipment
One of the reasons why people join the gym in the first place is because of all of the equipment. While there is nothing stopping you from exercising without equipment, you will need it at a certain point, especially if your goal is to build muscles. Don’t be afraid to get a few things yourself: a couple of dumbbells and kettlebells will be great for your arms and abs, and they will help you get used to using the equipment. If you like it, you can think about getting something a bit more serious, like a good old stationary bike or a high-end matrix treadmill, which will definitely upgrade your fitness routine to a higher level.
Skipping warm-up and stretching
People usually find warm-ups and stretching boring. And, unfortunately, people tend to avoid doing them or they dedicate an insufficient amount of time to these activities. Warm-ups and stretches are essential parts of any workout and you must never ever skip them. You risk getting injured or keeping your muscles constantly sore, which can affect your health and make you lose motivation fast. Spend at least five minutes warming up before you start working out – jump, use a skipping rope, jog, or hop on a stationary bike. After you’re all done, tired and sweaty, take ten minutes to stretch and loosen your muscles so you don’t end up sore the following day or two.
When you start working out, the most important thing is to slowly turn your motivation into a habit. Motivation can come and go, but if you make it a regular thing, it will stay with you. You will notice your body changing for the better, not to mention that you will feel much calmer and happier after your workout.
