10 fitness mistakes that are keeping you from reaching your goals
Is your fitness routine not giving you the results you were hoping for? Maybe you are not going about it in the right way. Most of us are guilty of thinking we’ll sail through and see results without having to put in much effort, but being fit is serious business and requires hard work. You need to be dedicated, consistent and disciplined.
But even if you are all of these things, you might not realise that a few things you’re doing are holding you back. Read on to see if you are making any of these common fitness mistakes.
1. You are doing the same routine again and again
Sticking to the same workouts time and time again is not going to achieve much. Our bodies adapt to the movements and workouts that we do over time and you need to keep switching it up to improve your strength, cardio and flexibility.
2. You do not set goals
Setting short and long term goals is important to help you stay motivated and working towards achieving what you want. Think about one movement you want to get better in and put the time in before or after class to chip away at that skill. Not sure where to start? Talk to one of our great coaches who can set you up with a great program.
3. Comparing yourself to others
Everyone has different fitness goals that they set for themselves. It is important to understand that you are on your own journey and you have your own special skills and abilities that set you apart from others. Focus on yourself and watch the results flow in!
4. Not drinking enough water
Staying hydrated is key for fitness, as dehydration can lead to reduced muscle recovery and sub-par workouts. Drinking water is crucial, so keep a filled water bottle on you at all times and set an alarm on your phone if you need an extra reminder.
5. Only doing cardio
Yes, cardio is an excellent workout for your heart, it should not be the only form of exercise you do. Cardio does not engage your muscles in the same way as strength training, which helps you to burn fat and build muscle. CrossFit takes the best of cardio and strength training, giving you one complete workout that is great for your heart and your muscles.
6. You do not fuel up correctly before a workout
You don’t want fast food in an empty stomach before a workout. Ideally, you want to consume some healthy carbs and protein around 90 minutes before your CrossFit class.
7. You are not taking recovery seriously
Your body needs to rest in order to rebuild and repair the muscles that have been workout out. We recommend taking one or two rest days per week to boost endurance and maximise performance in the long run.
8. You do not listen to your body
At the end of the day, your body will show what is working for you. Pay close attention to how you are feeling and use those cues to build an exercise routine that gets you the best results.
9. You do not enjoy the type of exercise you do
When it comes to getting fit, consistency is key! But you are unlikely to consistently do something you do not enjoy, so make sure you shop around to find fitness that you really look forward to.
10. Doing too much too soon
Do not listen to ‘get-ripped-quick’ training programs, and focus on slowly building a routine you enjoy and can be consistent with. Here at CrossFit Play, we believe that fitness is for life so there is not any reason to rush.