Whether you’re at the gym lifting weights or running outside on the sidewalk, the time you spend exercising is valuable. With hectic schedules being the norm for most of us, it’s important to make the most out of your workout time. A lot of us guys, however, make some common workout mistakes that can delay results and even cause injury. Make sure you’re not committing any of these men’s fitness blunders that could spoil your workout.
5 Big Men’s Fitness Mistakes
Men’s Fitness Mistake #1 – Doing too much too soon. In an effort to get fit fast, many of us spend hours working out, which can lead to overtraining. Whether you’re lifting too much weight too soon or running too fast for your own good, this extra effort you’re putting into your workouts can do more harm than good. You have to be realistic – you’re not going to be able to run a marathon if it’s your first time running. Make gradual changes to your workouts over the course of weeks and months instead of all at once. If you want to see results a little faster, consider a creatine monohydrate supplement or a pre-workout supplement, both of which can give you extra energy and power to boost workout intensity. “6 Muscle-Building Mistakes for Men” has more common men’s workout mistakes and nutrition blunders to avoid.
Men’s Fitness Mistake #2 – Not taking the right men’s supplements (or any supplements at all). While you can achieve results without the help of supplements, a lot of us don’t have the patience. With the right men’s sports nutrition supplements, you can see noticeable results in a shorter time frame. Whatever your goal – fat loss, muscle gain, energy increase – there’s a MenScience men’s nutrition supplement that can help you. Want a convenient way to boost your protein intake? Take a men’s whey protein supplement. Want to speed up recovery after a workout? Take a post-workout supplement. By not taking men’s nutrition supplements, you’re making a big workout mistake and cheating your body out of fast, visible gains.
Men’s Fitness Mistake #3 – Using bad form. Bad form during aerobic and anaerobic activity significantly increases your risk of injury. If you can’t complete that last rep or last half mile without messing up your posture or cheating with a little extra body movement, stop. It’s critical to know your limits when it comes to your favorite activity – tennis, weight training, skiing, etc. While pushing yourself to the limit is important for improving your fitness, pushing yourself too much is a big workout mistake a lot of men make. For help on determining your limit, check out “Measuring Workout Intensity: The Talk Test.”
Men’s Fitness Mistake #4 – Not keeping track of your progress. How do you know if you’re improving your fitness if you’re not keeping score? A workout journal can help you measure your progress over a period of time. Writing down every men’s nutrition supplement, time, rep and mile after every workout helps you know what numbers to beat during your next exercise session. This can also boost your motivation, encouraging you to shatter your personal records. Check out “How to Overcome Exercise Excuses” for more tips on boosting workout motivation.
Men’s Fitness Mistake #5 – Not being sufficiently hydrated. You need more than eight glasses of water a day if you work out regularly. Before a workout, make sure you take a refreshing pre-workout supplement to maintain proper hydration, maximize your energy stores and boost nitric oxide production. Also, have a water bottle at the ready during your workout even if you know you won’t feel thirsty. Thirst can be deceiving, especially in cooler weather when you don’t sweat as much. Even if you don’t feel you need a sip of water to keep you going, take it anyway. By the time your body signals that it’s thirsty, you’ve been dehydrated for a while. Consume a post-workout supplement when you’re done exercising to not only hydrate yourself, but also give your body some carbs, whey protein and other important nutrients to maximize recovery. Read “Are You Getting Enough Water?” for more hydration tips.
