3 of the Biggest Workout Mistakes
by Yuri in Fitness Training
Every now and again I like to expose some of the nonsense I see in the gym when I go workout.
Today, I want to share 3 of the biggest workout mistakes I saw when I was in the gym on Sunday. And believe me, there were many more than just 3!
I’m not trying to be pretentious but I think these common errors will shed some light on what NOT TO DO when you workout.
MISTAKE #1 – Holding Onto The Treadmill For Dear LIfe!
This is definitely something that gets me going. And I probably see it at least once every time I go to the gym – partly because to get to the men’s change room I have to walk passed about 20 treadmills. It’s a numbers game.
Anyways, here what a lot of people do…
While walking on the treadmill (usually at a steep incline) they hold onto the railings!
Here’s why you don’t want to do this…
- Holding on totally reduces the amount of work your legs are doing, which makes incline walking on the treadmill a complete waste of time.
- Puts more pull and strain on the shoulder joint and rotator cuff muscles.
It’s almost as if they’re arms are attached to the treadmill and your just waiting for them to detach from their torso. Not a pretty thought.
So, here’s the lesson…
Incline walking on the treadmill but ONLY if you don’t hold onto the treadmill. Let your legs and arms do the work.
MISTAKE #2 – Halfway Pull-ups
What’s the point of doing pull-ups if you aren’t going to get the full range of motion?
Well, for some, it’s simply about cranking out as many reps as possible. But believe me, there’s a big difference between doing 20 half pull-ups and doing 10 full pull-ups (ie. from arms straight to above the bar).
Lesson to be learned…
This can be applied to any exercise – go through the full range of motion. Doing so will recruit more muscle fiber, develop greater strength over a greater distance, and lead to greater “physical” results.
Remember…quality over quantity.
MISTAKE #3 – Reading While Doing Cardio
This one definitely takes the cake. In fact, these people are better off eating cake than working out!
First, if you’re doing cardio – it’s got to be intense! Ideally, using interval training will enable you to do so.
It so follows that if you’re working out intensely you won’t really have the time or luxury of reading a book or magazine while on your cardio machine.
It’s about focus. When you’re working out, do just that! It’s only 30-45 minutes out of your day. You can always read later.
I last observed this last week when I was running my butt off on the treadmill. The girl beside had a magazine propped up on the treadmill (and her TV was also on) while she casually walked for about 20 minutes.
Why not walk outside?
I hope she didn’t feel that just because she went to gym, she actually worked out! Not by a long shot.
ABOUT YURI
