Ten Biggest Mistakes Made in the Gym
This was taken directly from a personal trainer at the Powerhouse Gym. His name is Shaun Adamson, and he’s been doing this kind of work for 10 years.
- Not keeping a journal. Unless you’re recording your workout, you’ll never be able to accurately spot where your deficiencies are.
- Not eating appropriately prior to exercise. You should eat a meal high in complex carbs and moderate protein.
- Not warming up properly.
- Not performing corrective stretching, or improper stretching prior to exercise. Static stretching (holding the stretch) fatigues the muscle prior to the exercise, increasing the possibility that the muscle will fail when most need.
- Focusing on one’s strengths. Attack your weaknesses so that your body is in balance.
- Not drinking enough water.
- Improper exercise form. Check your ego at the door. It’s better to do four perfectly correct exercises than ten incorrect ones.
- Not timing rest periods between sets. Here’s a good rule of thumb:
- 3 – 5 reps = 3 – 5 minutes
- 6 – 8 reps = 3 minutes
- 9 – 12 reps = 1 – 3 minutes
- 13 – 15 reps = 1 minute
- 15 – 25 reps = 30 seconds to 1 minutes
- Copying hard-core gym members or trainers. Your body is unique. What works for someone else, may NOT work for you. Find your own routine and blast away.
- Not cooling down after any type of workout. It’s important to cool down as well as warm up. Don’t neglect either one.
There are, of course, other big mistakes that people make. I’ll post the others tomorrow, after my bike ride. Until then, happy lifting, fellow bodybuilders.
