Exercising is essential for staying healthy and promoting overall well-being, but there are a few surprising factors that can make or break your success.
Here are seven things no one tells you about exercising that you should know before starting a workout routine.
Daniel Reche/Pexels | It is important that you exercise. However, working out every day is not a requirement.
1. You Don’t Have to Exercise Every Day
When starting out, many people believe they must exercise every single day in order to get the health benefits of physical activity. However, this isn’t the case—even doing something as simple as walking for 20 minutes three times per week can have positive health effects, and it’s important to give your body time to rest and recover between workouts.
2. Strength Training Is Important Too
Cardio exercises such as running or cycling get most of the glory when it comes to keeping fit, but strength training is just as important: building muscle not only helps you look better but also increases your metabolism so that you burn more calories even at rest. This can help you reach your weight loss goals more quickly.
3. Quality Matters Over Quantity
It’s natural to focus on burning calories when exercising — but if you don't pay attention to form, you won't be getting the full benefit from your workouts. Doing reps with poor technique will not only limit the effectiveness of the exercise, but can also increase your risk of injury over time. Make sure you always use proper form when performing any type of exercise routine by concentrating on quality rather than quantity.
William Choquette/Pexels | Take your workout slow and stretch before and after to avoid injuries and muscle soreness
4. Take Time for Stretching
Stretching before and after a workout session is an essential part of exercising safely; dynamic stretches help prevent injuries, while static stretching improves flexibility, posture, and range of motion in joints. Take some extra time at the beginning and end of each workout session to incorporate stretching into your routine—you’ll be glad that you did!
5. You Need To Warm Up & Cool Down
A good warm-up prepares both your body and mind for the effort ahead by gradually increasing blood flow and heart rate—and cooling down afterward helps return them back to normal levels in a gradual fashion which reduces stress on muscles and joints. Warming up involves light aerobic activities such as jogging or cycling followed by specific stretches related to the upcoming activity.
Cooling down includes light aerobic activities plus gentle stretches done slowly without bouncing motions which may cause injury instead of relief from soreness caused by exertion from working out.
Karolina Grabowska/Pexels | Light aerobics is advised before you jump into a full-fledged workout session
Exercising can be a great way to improve your physical and mental health, but it’s important to understand its potential risks. It is essential that you listen to your body when exercising and take proper precautions, such as warming up before engaging in strenuous activity.
Additionally, don’t forget to take breaks throughout your workout routine for adequate rest periods so you can prevent yourself from becoming overly fatigued or injured. With these tips in mind, we hope you have all the knowledge necessary to decide how much exercise is right for you!