Exercise Dos and Don’ts.

Tips for Beginners

Whether you’ve been working out for two weeks or two decades, you’re probably making mistakes that prevent you from getting optimal results. Here are some exercise dos and don’ts.

If You’re Just Starting Out

Do…

Work out every day.
That’s right, seven straight. It’s important for beginners to form an exercise
habit. Doing something daily, even if it’s small, helps with consistency. For
the best results, don’t overwhelm yourself, aim for 30 minutes of cardio every
day and strength training twice a week for two to three months, or until you
feel that exercise has become an ingrained part of your daily routine.

Stay loose.
Whether it comes from a lack of confidence or a determination to lose belly fat
f-a-s-t, beginners are particularly prone to tensing up when working out. If
you’re white-knuckled gripping the bars on the bike and clenching your teeth,
you’re wasting a lot of energy. Relax the muscles you’re not working, and focus
on the ones you are. You’ll have more energy and get better results.

Don’t…

Get stuck on the treadmill. New exercisers often do the same routine for the same
duration and at the same intensity every time they work out. Some stay on the
treadmill until they either die of boredom or get hurt. This bad habit gets
reinforced because, as your workouts get easier, you’re fooled into thinking
you’ve become super fit. In reality, your muscles have just grown accustomed to
the challenge. Be sure to mix up your routine by varying your time and intensity
and by cross-training on the bike or elliptical machine, or by going for a jog
outside.

Be a slouch.
Whether you’re leafing through the latest gossip rag on the elliptical or
curling dumbbells on a bench, straighten up. Slumping causes you to check out
of your workout both mentally and physically. The less you focus during your
sweat session, the less you’ll receive in the way of benefits. Slouching also
keeps you from breathing deeply, which is necessary for delivering the oxygen
your muscles need to work at full capacity.

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