Common Mistakes When Starting a Fitness Journey (Don’t Do This!)

Common Mistakes When Starting a Fitness Journey (Don’t Do This!) 1

Starting a fitness journey can be overwhelming. There are so many options that can hinder your progress and set you off on the wrong foot. We’re here to make sure you know the ins and outs of this new path you’re on and help you feel the most confident.

Here, we’re going over some common mistakes people make when starting a fitness journey and how to avoid them. Let’s begin!

Mistake #1: Not Knowing Where to Start

You’ll want to clearly define what your fitness goals are. Are you looking to build muscle? Burn fat? Increase your cardiovascular endurance? Increase your strength? With so many options it’s easy to go astray. 

With detailed goals, the path that’s right for you is easy to choose! Look into what you want your end result to be, and work backward from there.

Mistake #2: Forgetting to Set Goals

While it’s great to set your sights high, let’s make sure your goals are attainable in a healthy way. Once you reach your first goal, you’ll have the momentum and passion to push forward for more.

Aim for a training period that lasts from 6-8 weeks. This time frame is appropriate for allowing your body to adjust to your new training program and begin to show you results. 

Common Mistakes When Starting a Fitness Journey (Don’t Do This!)

Mistake #3: Not Planning

According to Muscle and Fitness, two of the most common mistakes are not planning your workouts before entering the gym, and not tracking your workouts and diet. This includes photos! 

Make sure you take a before photo. Sometimes you don’t realize the progress you’ve made because it’s slow and the scale is not moving. But a photo can show you the difference! Also, don’t forget muscle weighs more than fat, so the scale may not move how you expect it to.

Mistake #4: Foregoing an Accountability Partner

There will be days when you don’t want to go to the gym, and that voice in your head can be pretty persuasive in these times. Finding a friend that can be your gym partner is the best way to go. 

If you can’t find someone who wants to go on this journey with you, you can make a bet with a friend. Something along the lines of “you have to go to the gym 4 times a week for an hour. If you don’t fulfill this, you must pay ‘so-and-so’ $100”. That’s some easy motivation right there!

Mistake #5: Straying from Your “Why”

Lifehack makes an important point that many people overlook. What is the real reason you are starting this fitness journey? Keep asking yourself “why” until you get to the root of it. Try to work past your initial response and figure out your real why.

It’s not just to look good, it’s to build your confidence and feel comfortable in your skin. It’s not because you want to improve your cardiovascular, it’s because you want to be able to keep up with your kids when you’re 60!

Your “why” is also important because this will be your driving force on the days you want to quit. Write post-it notes with your reasons on them and stick them around your house for motivation on those tougher days.

Common Mistakes When Starting a Fitness Journey (Don’t Do This!)

Most Common Training Mistakes

Now that we’ve talked about some common mistakes when starting a fitness journey, let’s quickly go over some mistakes you might make while actually training. When it comes to the technicality of a workout, here are some of the most common mistakes according to Henry Ford Health:

  • Overtraining
  • Using improper form
  • Not warming up or cooling down
  • Sticking to the same workout
  • Skipping strength training
  • Not stretching out
  • Not taking time to rest and recover

Keep these mistakes in mind if you’re an absolute beginner or consider working with a trainer to get started. 

Remember, health is not just about losing pounds. It works across the board from your mind to your body and to your soul. Health and fitness are wholesome, your mind affects how your body functions and your body affects how your mind works. 

You only have one body, so take care of it as you are putting it through this new regime. Incorporating a warm-up and cool-down into every workout will help prevent injury and increase flexibility. 

Feel your body with nutrients and fuel to recover from the changes you are implementing. Food is just as important, actually, it’s probably more important, than the actual workout you do. So, be mindful of how you are feeding your muscles, heart, and brain.

Get excited! This is a journey that can bring you longevity, happiness, and vibrance. The OOMHP app is here to help you every step of the way.

Download the OOMPH app and let us help you begin your fitness journey today!

 

 

Common Mistakes When Starting a Fitness Journey (Don’t Do This!)

 


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