New to fitness? Avoid these common mistakes 

It's easy to make mistakes when starting a fitness program. For anyone that's new to fitness, there's a lot to learn and often, learning happens through making mistakes. Looking at this site and others, it's easy to see how much information there is for someone to soak in.

That's where this article can help. 'Newbies' often make the same common mistakes. So instead of figuring out what those mistakes are over time, hopefully you can flag them now and correct them so you see better results sooner. There are little tips on eating healthy and to speed up your metabolism that can be learned over time.  Here's a short cut to ensure you're avoiding the mistakes that so many others make.

So, do your own little personal check list and see if you need to work on any of the following...

1. Not working hard enough.
Working out requires work. Don’t just go through the motions of your reps and sets. Work hard. Ensure you’re challenging yourself with the weight you use, focus on your technique and get the most out of the time you spend at the gym.

2. Lifting too much
Leave your ego at the door. Lifting more than you can handle will only get you injured.

3. Nutritional timing
You need to ensure you go into a workout with the energy to push yourself, meaning pre-workout nutrition is key. Also, your post-workout nutrition is just as important to ensure you’re getting the simple carbs and protein you need to recover properly and realize the benefits of your effort.

4. Go in with a plan
It’s not uncommon to see those people at the gym that seem to wander around, checking out different machines or equipment and finding openings to pull off a set or two. This isn’t the best way to spend your time. Go in with a plan and some focus to get the most of your workout.

5. Socializing
It sounds like a broken record, but you want to get the most of your time at the gym or during your workout. If that’s the case, having a discussion about Oprah’s favourite things isn’t going to get your butt in shape.

6. Not allowing time for recovery
Your body needs time to recover from your workouts. Overtraining can limit and even hinder your ability to see great results. Give it time to recover so you can come back strong.

7. Too many isolation exercises
Isolation exercises and a good idea to include in your workouts, but multi-joint or compound exercises are key to great results to speed up your metabolism. Be sure they make up the core of your weight routine.

8. Not warming up/cooling down
Not only is a warm up key for preventing injuries, but it will also result in a better workout and greater results. Be sure to take 5 minutes on either side of your workout to realize the benefits.

These are just some of the common mistakes newbies often make. Pay attention to yourself within your program to ensure you can avoid discovering these ‘the hard way’.