You think you’ve been doing great work at the gym, but you aren’t seeing the results you want. It might be that you’ve developed some bad fitness habits that are holding you back. Here are some bad habits that you should avoid. 

Skipping Gym Days

Everyone skips a workout every now and then, but this can easily become a slippery slope. After you’ve skipped one day at the gym, it’s easier to justify skipping another, and then another, and soon you find you’ve fallen out of the habit completely. 

When you decide to skip a workout, it’s easier to skip the next one too. The important thing to stay on track is discipline. Working out takes mental discipline, as well as physical ability. 

There are some things you can try to motivate you. Make sure you like your gym! Find one, like Fitness 19, with plenty of good equipment and where you like the staff. The more you exercise, the more you’ll want to do it. The opposite is true too. Your workout regime is all about putting yourself first and take some time for yourself. Try to remember that you might regret skipping a workout, but you won’t regret a great session at the gym. 

Not Taking Rest Days

Some people have the opposite problem when they get into going to the gym. Some people fall into pushing themselves too hard and try to work out every day, or even twice a day, without taking a test. 

This might seem like a good idea, but it’s actually a mistake. Working out every day like this could result in injury, burnout, and muscle fatigue. Your muscles need to rest in they are going to rebuild stronger and bigger. Without rest, you might actually lose muscle mass, especially if you’re training the same muscle groups every day. Make sure to rest your muscles. 

You can also mix up your routine a little bit, so you work different muscle groups and improve your overall fitness. For example, if you do a heavy weight-lifting workout on one day, choose something gentle, like yoga, the day after.

Skipping Stretching or The Cool Down

You’ve had a tough session at the gym, but you’ve reached the end of your workout, and it’s time to cool down. You’ve put in a lot of work, and this is your chance to get your breath back, decompress, and congratulate yourself for getting your workout done. 

It can be tempting to just put your weights away and rush out of the gym as soon as you’re finished, but you should make sure you put in the time to cool down, stretch, and take proper care of your body. Cooling down properly will help to prevent injuries and have a better recovery, so you’ll feel more motivated to work out next time. If you’re having a tough workout, your relaxing stretch at the end can be something to look forward to and keep you going too. 

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