Common fitness mistakes Dubai residents make

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Common fitness mistakes Dubai residents make
Enjoy what you do when it comes to workouts.

Dubai - Once you find what works for you, go ahead with it.

By Web Report

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Published: Fri 24 Mar 2017, 5:16 PM

Last updated: Fri 24 Mar 2017, 7:26 PM

So you want to lose weight but aren't sure about how to go about it? You will need to make sure that you don't make these mistakes.
1)      Weight loss and fitness aren't the same thing
If you think being fit is the same as losing weight, you may not be entirely wrong. But you need to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) before you decide what fitness regimen you will follow. If you're above the desirable BMI, you will find that weight loss will contribute to your fitness. It will also reduce your susceptibility to illnesses that are associated with having a high BMI.  
It's important to remember that trying to lose weight just in a few areas is often foolhardy. When you lose weight overall, then you are likely to reduce in the areas you would like to lose weight in.
2)     You can't eat everything you want to as long as you exercise
It would be wonderful if we could eat as much as we like and hope that exercise will make it all right. Well, if you did hours of exercise just maybe you could burn off all that you eat. It's highly unlikely you will have the endurance to do hours of exercise to burn off all that you ate. If you had all the time in the world and no responsibilities, you could attempt such a disastrous course of life. But considering that the amount of time it would take to burn off the calories from eating a samosa or a bar of chocolate will ensure that you will spend your days eating and exercising. It isn't clear for how many people this will work and for how long. If the goal is fitness then it has to be sustainable. 
3)     Not eating enough
Now this might seem like a great strategy but it isn't. Your body, through years of evolution, is going to assume that food is scarce and is going to conserve weight rather than lose it. Sorry to say but all that talk of eating a balanced diet from years gone by is true. The basic equation for weight loss remains: calories in, calories out. So it might seem that you've cracked the code. If you have fewer calories going in than the calories being expended, you will lose weight. But will you be in the pink of health? And, if yes, for how long? The chances are the answer to both questions is an empathic "No!" There's a good chance you will feel exhausted, hungry and irritable. Not exactly social magnet material.
4)     Not knowing your body type
Every fitness regimen isn't made for everyone. You have to find what works for you. You may not be a runner but you may be great at yoga. Or more accurately yoga may be good for you. So don't punish yourself at the gym when you could be achieving physical fitness and peace of mind by doing yoga at home. Of course, make sure that you learn yoga from a teacher or a practitioner so that you do the asanas the way they are meant to be done. It's easy to get things wrong.
Once you find what works for you, go ahead with it. It could make all the difference between happiness and frustration.
5)     Exercise is not a chore
With a little imagination, you can create exercise routines that you look forward to. The moment an exercise regimen becomes a chore, it isn't going to last very long. You have to be able to do the workouts and look forward to doing them. If you don't, it won't be long before you slowly quit doing them. With a lot of imagination, you could build your life around your fabulous workouts. You can be anybody and anything in your mind. You could create an exciting world for yourself. But you have to be able to tell that world apart from the world that you live in. No, you don't have to go so far. Just make sure you set realistic and achievable goals. Above all else be compassionate to yourself. Don't give up just because you missed a day or two because you were exhausted from working at the office.
6)     Focusing only on cardio
To start with it would be good to do just cardio. The release of endorphins and the improved blood circulation will help lift your mood. But as you gain endurance, it is important to add strength training to your workout. Increase in muscle mass increases your metabolic rate making sure that you lost weight more rapidly.
Running on the treadmill is great exercise but make sure you start slowly. If you start running for even ten minutes without being accustomed to running at all, you will be out of breath and have pain in at least one place. If you are heavy, you will put great pressure on your knees and you will develop knee pain which will prevent you from running further.
7)     Weight training is only for men
No, it isn't it. Women benefit greatly from weight training. And you won't look like a man. This is a big reason women stay away from weight training. But this has no basis. Women have lower levels of testosterone and will not develop the same kind of musculature that a man would. It will prevent osteoporosis too.
8)    Sticking to the same workout for too long
Your body adapts really quickly to a workout. You will need to make modifications as you go along. This also ensures that you do not lose interest and are not tempted to quit.
9)     Don't expect instant results
So you started exercising yesterday and you are expecting results today? Well, I hate to break it you but chances are other than feeling better and some hard to quantify physical benefits, there hasn't been an improvement in your fitness levels. But you must remember that some exercise is better than no exercise or thinking of exercising.
 


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