There are a huge number of ways to exercise and it can be confusing knowing which is best for your body. However, there are certain mistakes that you should avoid if you want to live a long and healthy life.
- Trying to do too much, too soon. People often start an exercise program with the goal of getting in shape. But they quickly become frustrated because they’re not achieving their desired results. Then they make the mistake of trying to do too much, too soon. Maybe you want to get physically fit and lose weight, so you join a gym and try to spend an hour on the treadmill every day. Or you want to burn fat, build muscle and get “ripped” in four weeks, so you buy all of the latest workout DVDs and follow them religiously every day. Sound familiar? This is a recipe for disaster because it’s likely that you’ll injure yourself, give up or burn out completely.
- Another mistake that can shorten your lifespan is ignoring other health problems that may be causing you health issues. You shouldn’t ignore any health problem just because you’re trying to exercise. Take care of any health problems first before starting an exercise regime.
- Failing to warm up and cool down. Many people start exercising by jumping right in, but they don’t allow their muscles time to warm up and get loose. This is particularly important for older adults, who tend to have weaker muscles and connective tissues that should be treated with more caution. And cooling down won’t just help your muscles — it keeps your heart rate from spiking too high, reducing your risk for a heart attack or stroke.
- Exercising in extreme weather conditions. Cold air makes it harder for your body to take in oxygen, while hot air can increase fatigue and dehydration risks.
