However, quitting will not only ensure youâll never make progress, but it will also likely put you in a place where youâre worse off than you were before. It happened to me.
A lot of the time, a quick fix is pretty easy. There are things youâre likely doing during your workouts that are sabotaging your success; some bad workout habits you might not even realize you have. So being mindful of them can re-start your engine and make your goals more attainable. So take a look at some of the ways you may be sabotaging your workouts.
Bad Workout Habit #1: Not Keeping a Journal
Every time you hit the track, road, pool, or gym, you should have a notepad nearby. When you track your time, reps, strength, speed, and break time, you can clearly see where youâve been, the progress youâve made, and where youâre headed. If the speed of your progress has slowed down, hey, thatâs totally normal. Performance tapers once your body adjusts. Your notes will show you that, and show you itâs time to get to the next level. A great place to start is with measuring your heart rate. Measure it both 15 minutes and 60 minutes after exercise to see some progress thatâs typically hidden.
Bad Workout Habit #2: Not Writing Down Your Goals
Just like writing down your progress, itâs important to have realistic goals on paper. It could be shedding 20 pounds in the next four or five months, losing a pound or two a week, adding five pounds to a squat, or shaving some time off your laps. Whatever your goals are, write down both the short-term and long-term progress you wish to make. And donât take my word for it: research shows that people who chart their goals are more likely to meet them.
Bad Workout Habit #3: Always Doing the Same Thing
Iâve heard the definition of insanity is always doing the same things and expecting different results. This couldnât be more apt when it comes to exercise. Switch up your trainingâspeeds, sets, repetitions, laps, dietâto overcome plateaus and encourage your body to adapt to new challenges.
Bad Workout Habit #4: Not Eating Enough
For most people, this means not eating enough protein. Protein is essential for building and maintaining lean body mass (LBM) and losing fat. If your goal is to tone up and lose the rolls, getting more protein is essential. Eating at least one gram of protein per pound of LBM is recommended.
Bad Workout Habit #5: Getting Distracted
When youâre on the treadmill or at the track, it can seem like a great time to catch up on an intriguing podcast, e-book, or sitcom. But when youâre concentrating on what youâre hearing and seeing, youâre taking focus and energy away from your exercise. When youâre working your body hard, give your mind a rest and listen to some energetic music or watch a silly sitcom that requires little focus.
Bad Workout Habit #6: Not Breathing Properly
People forget to breathe when they exercise and it can really cost them. Improper breathing deprives your muscles of the oxygen needed to function and, in turn, sabotages your performance. In the gym, itâs important to breathe out when contracting and shortening muscles (concentric motion) and in when lengthening muscles (eccentric motion). Establishing a steady breathing pattern during cardio can help regulate energy expenditure and enhance endurance and speed.
Source
âDominican Research Cited in Forbes Article,â Dominican University web site; http://www.dominican.edu/dominicannews/dominican-research-cited-in-forbes-article, last accessed May 17, 2017.