The top mistakes made when working out and how a personal trainer can help

Jan 18

Getting fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a common goal for many people. However, working towards attaining your fitness goals can be challenging and many individuals make mistakes that can impede their progress. In this article, we will discuss the top mistakes people make when working out and how a personal trainer can prevent those mistakes.

Not setting specific, measurable, and achievable goals. Many people have an idea of what their goals are when working out such as losing weight or building muscle, but they don't take the time to set specific, measurable, and achievable goals. Without clear goals in mind, it's easy to lose motivation and give up fairly quickly. A fitness coach can help you set realistic and specific goals, as well as create a plan to achieve them to keep you motivated.
Not having a consistent exercise routine. Consistency is key when it comes to fitness. Without a consistent exercise routine or schedule, it's easy to miss workouts and lose progress. A personal trainer can help you create a customized workout plan that fits your schedule and fitness level while holding you accountable for staying consistent with the workouts.
Not addressing nutrition. Exercise is only half the battle when it comes to getting fit. Proper nutrition is just as important, if not more than the actual workout. Many people do not pay enough attention to their nutrition and think only working out with help them achieve their goals, which is possible, but adding the nutrition element will get you there much faster. A personal trainer can help you create a nutrition plan that complements your exercise routine to achieve your goals much faster.
Not varying your workout. Doing the same exercises and routines over and over again can lead to boredom and hitting a plateau. A personal trainer can help you create a varied workout plan that continuously challenges your body and makes it easier for you to not have to come up with a routine for every workout you do.

Not warming up or cooling down properly. Many people overlook the importance of proper warming up and cooling down. A proper warm-up can prepare your body for the main workout, preventing injury and improving performance throughout the routine. Similarly, a proper cool-down can help your body recover and reduce muscle soreness. A good personal trainer will ensure that every workout you have with them will have a proper warm-up and cool-down session.
Not tracking progress: Without tracking progress, it's difficult to know if you're closer to reaching your goals or not. In many cases, you might not even know how to track certain things to show progress. A personal trainer can help you track your progress by monitoring your workouts, measuring body composition, and taking photos to show the results of your workouts and the progress you have made with them.
Overestimating abilities: Many people like to overestimate their abilities and try to push their body further than they should. This can lead to serious injuries. Hiring a personal trainer can help you determine your fitness level and create a workout plan that is appropriate.
Comparing yourself to others: It’s very common to compare yourself to others when you are at the gym working out, but this can lead to frustration and a lack of confidence and motivation. Personal trainers will help you to block that out and to only focus on your own goals and progress. Comparing yourself to others is a huge mistake that many beginners make that will hinder their motivation to continue.
Not getting enough rest and recovery: Rest and recover is just as important as the actual workout itself. Many people think they shouldn’t take a day off because they will lose the progress that they have made. This is a mistake. Your body needs the rest and recovery to build your muscles back up and to continue to progress towards your goals. A personal trainer knows the amount of time your body needs to rest and will set a schedule for you to get ample recovery time.
Poor form: One of the most common mistakes people make when trying to get fit is using poor form during exercises. Poor form can not only impede progress, but lead to serious injury. Many times, this is just from lack of knowledge or watching others perform exercises thinking they can do it correctly the first time. A personal trainer can help you learn proper form for each exercise, ensuring that you get the most out of your workout and avoiding future injury.
Not using proper equipment and weights: Using the wrong equipment or weights can impede progress and lead to injury. Just because a gym has a certain exercise machine or you see somebody else doing an exercise you would like to try, doesn’t mean you are at the skill level to perform it. A personal trainer can help you choose the right equipment and weights for your fitness level until you become more seasoned and can build towards adding weights or performing other, more complex moves.

In conclusion, getting fit is a journey that requires dedication and effort. However, there are all kinds of mistakes that people can make that will impede their progress towards reaching their goals. A personal trainer can be a valuable asset in this journey, providing guidance, their own knowledge, support, and accountability that is extremely valuable to people of all fitness levels.