Working out regularly is a great way to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. And, if you want to build muscle and achieve an impressive physique, there is no better way than to hit the weights and eat a healthy nutrition. However, to reap the benefits of exercising, you need to take care of the basics and avoid making rookie mistakes that will hinder your progress.
Here are the three most common gym mistakes.
1. Overtraining
Many people believe that lifting more weight and training more often can yield the best results. However, research shows that not allowing your body to rest can backfire and lead to overtraining. Make sure you’re giving your body enough time to recover and feeding it with the right nutrients that will help with the recovery process.
2. Not Tracking Your Workouts
One of the most common gym mistakes is just getting into the gym and lifting weights without making notes and tracking your progress. Progressive overload is very important if you want to build muscle, so start carefully tracking your weights and reps. You can do this either the old-fashioned way by writing the data on a pad, or you can download an app that will make it much easier.
3. Too Much Rest Between Sets
Research shows that resting for 30 – 60 seconds between sets is optimal if you want to achieve muscle hypertrophy. Although longer rest periods may be safer and more reliable, shorter rest intervals increase your muscle endurance.
Final Word
Avoid these common gym mistakes and you’re already one step closer to achieving your fitness goals. Combine quality workouts with proper nutrition and rest, and you’ll start seeing results in no time.
