If you’re heading to the gym several times a week and not seeing results, you might want to look at how your time is spent. Too often, people do all the wrong things at the gym and ultimately sabotage their efforts. What you need to remember is that your efforts are in vain, if you aren’t being smart throughout the entire process. Just sweating for a few minutes and then calling it a day isn’t enough. Let’s look at the most common mistakes people make.
The first is socializing and not exercising. It’s great you want to flirt, talk, or gossip with someone at the gym. But if you’re spending your hour focusing on conversation and then doing a quick 5 minute run, you’re wasting your time.
Intensity is another critical item. You can walk for three hours and never break into a sweat. You can even lift a weight 100 times and it won’t matter if you aren’t putting anything into the process. Remember that intensity should increase as your physical fitness improves. Keep in mind that having some variances is also important to ensure you continue to work your muscles effectively.
As you do this, don’t overestimate how many calories you burn. Even if the machine tells you that you’ve burned off 500 calories, don’t try to compensate for those calories.
At the same time, remember that you aren’t going to lose 20 pounds this week. If you do too much too soon in the hopes of getting results, your body is going to pay the price. You’ll experience sore or torn muscles and your down time will reverse any positive effects it has. Instead, focus on a long term routine that will ultimately deliver results.
Above all, work with a personal trainer when possible. This professional will help to take you through the process and will ensure that you maximize your results. Not only will they guide you through an exercise routine, but they will do all they can to ensure that you also have a healthy meal plan in place. That way, you start to look and feel great faster. Best of all, you’ll find when you’re held accountable for your results, you’ll be more committed to the process.