If you did a search online for ‘how to lose weight’ you’d get thousands of hits all giving you different advice. There are so many different fad diets or supplements out there that claim to hold the key to losing weight and staying healthy. But really, we all know that the best way to get in shape is by eating a balanced diet without too many unhealthy foods and, most importantly, exercising regularly. There is no magic bullet that will help you lose weight overnight, it takes time and dedication and regular workouts.
A lot of people are a bit intimidated by the idea of working out if they don’t normally exercise properly. They might worry that they don’t really know what they’re doing which can be a bit embarrassing in the gym. But the thing that people tend to worry about the most is getting injured. Going from not exercising at all to suddenly exercising a few times a week can put a lot of strain on your body and a lot of people find that they hurt themselves. If an injury puts you out of action for a while, it interrupts your new exercise regime and it might put you off getting active again once you’ve recovered. That’s why it’s important that you stay safe when you exercise, especially when you’re first starting. Luckily, there are some simple things that you can do to avoid injuries.
Warm Up And Down Properly
The most common reason that people get injured when the exercise is that they don’t warm up properly. If you launch straight into intense exercise without warming up, your muscles and joints will be tight and you’re more likely to do some damage. All you need to do is get your heart going with 5 minutes of light movement and then do a full stretch. Once you’ve done that, your muscles will be warmed up and flexible and you are nowhere near as likely to get injured when you start exercising properly.
Warming down is the one that people usually forget. At the end of a hard workout, the first thing you want to do is drink some water to cool off and jump in the shower, but if you don’t warm down properly, you’ll end up with tight, painful muscles. Bring your heart rate down with some gentle exercise like walking on a treadmill for 5 minutes and then do a full stretch again. You’ll feel a lot better the next day if you warm down properly. If you don’t, your muscles will be very tight and sore.
Wear The Right Workout Gear
Wearing the right equipment is important as well, especially if you’re doing things like running or cycling. Before you start your new exercise routine, you need to make sure that you buy some good quality exercise clothes from an activewear manufacturer, and sometimes, it’s best to splash out on something a little more expensive so you can be sure of the quality. The most important thing that you need is a good pair of shoes. If you’re running in a normal pair of shoes that don’t offer much support, that’s when you’re likely to twist your ankle or slip and fall over. You may also have problems with your knees because all of the impacts are absorbed by your joints. A good pair of shoes will absorb that impact instead, meaning that the stress on your body is massively reduced.
Take A Break
It’s a good feeling when you start to get into your new exercise routine and finally start seeing results. At this point, a lot of people find themselves very motivated and they want to work out every single day so they can get down to their target weight faster, but that’s never a good idea. If you work out every single day, you’re never giving your muscles a chance to repair themselves, and eventually, all of that excess strain will take its toll and you’ll hurt yourself.
There are no exact rules about how often you should take a rest day because it really depends on the person and how much exercise you do. At the very least, you should be taking one day a week off but the best thing to do is listen to your body. If your muscles are aching and you feel tired before a workout, it probably means that you’re pushing yourself too hard. If you are in pain, that’s a definite sign that you need to take a break for a day or two.
Get A Massage
Even if you’re warming up and down properly and taking regular breaks, you will still get tight muscles sometimes. If you can find ways to relax your muscles and work out any knots regularly, it won’t be too much of a problem. The best way to do that is through massage sessions on a regular basis. It’s a great way to relieve pain and reduce stress and it will stop you from getting muscle injuries when you are working out. You don’t need to get a massage after every exercise session, just once every few weeks or so will make enough of a difference.
For a more therapeutic effect, get yourself massage balls, sticks, foam rollers, and other massage accessories. These products help massage therapists in stimulating the skin and its underlying soft tissues, and it’s something you can easily use on your own. With the right techniques, you’ll feel relaxed and invigorated after a few sessions.
Get A Personal Trainer
A lot of injuries happen because people aren’t doing their exercises properly. This is especially true if you’re using weight machines in the gym because if you do them wrong, you’re likely to do more harm than good. It’s always a good idea to do some research before you try a new exercise to make sure that you’re doing it safely, but if you aren’t sure, it might be worth hiring a personal trainer for a few sessions. They will be able to show you exactly how to do exercises so you don’t get injured. The other major benefit of having a personal trainer is that they will show you which exercises you should be doing. If you speak to them about your exercise goals, they will put together a workout routine that will help you meet them quicker.
Eat Properly
Eating right is the key to proper recovery after a workout because you need to ensure that your body has everything it needs to effectively repair your muscles. Carbohydrates are very important before a workout because they provide all of the energy that your body will need. They also help to replenish glycogen stores in your body after a workout so you don’t feel fatigued every time you exercise. Protein is equally as important because your body needs it to repair muscle. When you exercise, you’re actually damaging and breaking down muscles which will repair themselves afterward. But if you don’t have enough protein in your diet then you won’t be able to do that. There are protein supplements available but as long as you have a balanced diet that contains meat, beans, nuts, and fish, you should be fine without them.
A lot of people struggle with their diet once they start exercising because they underestimate how much they should eat. When you’re trying to be healthy, it makes sense that you would try to limit the amount that you eat. However, this often leads to a lack of nutrition, especially after a workout, and that’s when your body will suffer. If you are unsure, it might be a good idea to speak with a nutritionist and get their advice. That’s the best way to make sure that you’re healthy but you’re also eating enough to repair your body after exercising so you don’t end up getting injured.
If you don’t follow these steps when exercising, you’re more likely to get a serious injury that could have easily been avoided.
