Tips For Exercising Safely
If you’ve ever sustained an exercise or sports-related injury of any kind, you’re probably well aware of just how easy it is to get hurt. Simply rolling an ankle while out on a run or lifting a weight the wrong way can lead to us being out of our fitness routines for months on end. Although exercising is generally healthy for our bodies and our minds, strenuous exercise can often bring to light health issues that we’ve been dealing with our whole lives like back pain or foot problems, so it’s important to learn how to deal with these issues and find the healthiest way to exercise. Keep reading to read some helpful tips about exercising safely.
Always Stretch
What’s the first thing you do when you get to the gym? If you answered anything other than stretching, you may need to revise your fitness schedule. It’s not uncommon for people to believe that stretching is just for runners or gymnasts, but in reality, stretching is hugely beneficial no matter whether you’re going for a light jog, run, or lifting weights.
When you stretch, you’re making your muscles more flexible, elastic, and responsive. This is imperative for just about any form of exercise you’re doing because you need a full range of motion to perform at your best. Another thing that people often do, is that they only stretch if they feel stiff, but it’s best to commit to some form of stretching before each exercise and if you’re still feeling stiff, you can stretch some more.
Don’t Overdo It
Believe it or not, there is such a thing as too much exercise. This topic probably isn’t discussed much because the issue is usually getting people to exercise enough not trying to prevent them from over exercising. Some people are under the impression that the more you exercise, the healthier you will be, but this isn’t accurate. Instead, these people should be saying, “the right amount of exercise makes you healthy.” So what is the right amount of exercise for staying healthy?
According to the American Diabetes Association, even a moderate amount of exercise will lower your blood glucose levels, blood pressure; reduce your likelihood of stroke and heart disease; relieve stress, and improve blood circulation. Never fall into the impression that exercising more and working harder will improve your health, because you may actually be doing more harm than good.
If your goal is to lose weight most health specialists recommend around three hours of moderately intense workout time. But remember that half this battle is reducing your calorie intake.
Exercise Correctly
Everyone knows how to run, but when it comes to weightlifting, not everyone knows what they’re doing. Both free weights and exercise machines require some knowledge of muscles and lifting technique in order to prevent injury.
It might be helpful to work with a personal trainer, at least until you know what you’re doing. This won’t only help you prevent injury but it will help you be more efficient every time you go to work out.
Visit Fitness Specialists
Sometimes having your own in-home exercise equipment is the best way to maintain a healthy exercise routine. Many people don’t have the time to make a trip to the gym or the money to pay for yearly gym memberships. Instead, visit Fitness Specialists and view our selection of exercise equipment. We have everything from treadmills to ellipticals and everything in between. If you have any questions, be sure to contact us. We are your Top Rated Local® Fitness Equipment Store in Amarillo and the surrounding area.