Are You Making These At-Home Workout Mistakes?

Don’t Worry Here’s How to Fix Them and Get in Shape

There is no denying that exercising at home comes with a number of perks. It can save you the cost of a gym membership and allows you to get a workout in, whenever you have the time. That being said, there are some downsides as well. The main thing is that if you are making a mistake, it can be hard to realize this, even if you aren’t seeing the results that you want. Well, if you want to be a 100 percent certain that you are doing things the right way, keep reading.

You Aren’t Getting a Full Body Workout

When you are working out at home, there is a good chance that you aren’t relying on too many pieces of equipment. This can mean that you are focusing on one muscle group at a time and aren’t really getting in a full body workout. Now, while attention to specific muscle groups is important, you also need to remember that there are a number of benefits to a full-body workout. This includes increasing the number of calories burned, improving your strength, and cutting down on how much time you need to exercise.

The best way to solve this problem is to get at least one piece of equipment that works out your full body. This could be a rowing machine, treadmill, stair mill, or spin bike. At the very least, you might want to hit the local pool a few times a week so that you can work the majority of your muscles. 

You’re Adopting the Wrong Form

You know those simple exercises that you are so sure that you are doing properly? Well, there could be a possibility that this isn’t the case. In fact, most people tend to perform squats, lunges, and planks incorrectly. This is why you may notice that you are either in pain after doing these exercises or aren’t toning up as much as you should.

The first thing you need to do is to learn how to do these exercises properly. If a personal trainer is out of the question, videos online can be rather helpful. You will need to watch the professional’s form closely and mimic it exactly. To do this, you should work out in front of a mirror.

However, there are a few quick guidelines to remember. When performing lunges, make sure that you bend your back leg as well as your front leg so that all of your deep core muscles are activated. With squats, you will need to ensure that your knees are pointed outwards when you are moving down so that your quads are engaged.

Now, with planks, it is important to keep your elbows and hands directly below your shoulders. Also, when you raise yourself off the ground, keep your body straight and rigid. Finally, squeeze your gluteal muscles tightly so that you are able to work your core.

You Don’t Switch Things Up 

When you work out at home, there is a little bit more strategy involved. Since you can’t just move from one piece of equipment to another, you have to plan out each workout more thoroughly. As a result, you get stuck in a routine and do the same thing day in and day out. After all, if it isn’t broke, why fix it?

Well, there are more than a few reasons why you may want to switch things up. For one thing, only doing the same exercises over and over prevents you from working as many muscle groups as possible. Also, your body gets used to the routine, which means that you aren’t really challenging yourself anymore.

One great way to change things up is to take up a new activity such as kickboxing, running or cycling. If this isn’t in the cards for you, try tweaking your current workout a bit. For example, if you tend to use dumbbells, try investing in barbells instead. If you really aren’t interested in making all of that effort, the least that you can do is to increase the number of sets and reps that you do so that you are pushing your body a little more.

You’re Resting Too Much

When you are at the gym, you don’t really want to hang around for any longer than necessary. Due to this, your rests in between workouts probably don’t last for longer than a minute. When you are at home, on the other hand, you are a lot more comfortable and may rest for quite a bit longer.

The best way to avoid this is to watch your heart rate. While it should slow down, it shouldn’t return to normal just yet. So, if you find that you are cooling down a little too much, it is time to get started again. Also, set an alarm for yourself so that you aren’t idling for more than 30 seconds at a time.

So, are you guilty of any of these mistakes? Well, if you are, there’s no need to worry. The tips above will help you to get back into the proper groove of things.