Five Critical Exercise Mistakes

Starting an exercise program and sticking with it has proven to be a difficult task for most Americans. Unfortunately, many people make common mistakes that keep them from reaching their fitness goals. Let's take a look at five critical exercise mistakes that people make when starting a new exercise routine.

Exercise mistake number one: No pain, no gain

Many people start a new exercise program with reckless abandon, pushing their bodies to the absolute limit. After a couple of days of excruciating pain, these eager exercisers decide to give up because they can barely move.

Start out slow. Let your body adapt to the new stimulus you are presenting. Starting out slower will leave you finishing your workouts with a feeling of exhilaration. As your body adapts to the new routine you can increase the difficulty. Consistent, moderate exercise over time is the most effective way to get in shape and stay in shape.

Exercise mistake number two: Unrealistic expectations

Many people don't make it past week two of their exercise program because they expect immediate results. Healthy, sustainable weight loss is an average loss of about two pounds per week. Changes in muscle size and shape don't occur until you have completed at least six weeks of resistance training. Try to be patient with expectations and the results will come.

Exercise mistake number three: I can eat whatever I want

Many people exercise so they can eat whatever they feel like. This is a common exercise mistake. Without maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, all of the exercise in the world is not going to you the results that you are looking for. Using exercise as an excuse to eat an unhealthy diet causes most people quit their routines because they get frustrated with the lack of results.

Exercise mistake number four: Waiting until the end of the day to exercise

Life today is busy. We often put off exercise until the end of the day because we don't want to find the time to do it earlier. Unfortunately, the end of the day is also when we are the most exhausted. Exhaustion causes a lack of motivation. Due to the lack of motivation many people decide to put off their exercise "until tomorrow" in favor of a little R & R. Don't make this classic exercise mistake. Make time to do your workout early in the day. If you do you will be much more likely to stick to your exercise program.

Exercise mistake number five: Starting an exercise program that you despise

The biggest exercise mistake is embarking on an exercise program that you really dislike. For example, let's say that you start jogging to get in shape even though you think jogging is the most boring activity on the planet. If you don't like jogging, you are not going to want to do it on a regular basis. You have immediately set your self up for failure by picking an activity that you loathe.

Make sure to try to pick activities that you enjoy. For example, I really enjoy tennis, so I make sure that tennis is the cornerstone of my exercise routine. Finding an activity that you enjoy is the best step to take to make sure that you follow-through with your exercise program.

Avoiding these five critical exercise mistakes will get you on track to start an exercise program that if effective, enjoyable and sustainable.