Now that you have decided it’s time to start going to the gym and working out it is important to avoid a few common mistakes that can lead you to quit. Oftentimes people get discouraged very quickly when starting a workout routine, so avoiding these 5 common mistakes will increase your chances of staying on track!

1) Too much too fast
You are ready to start and are fully motivated which is great but don’t do more than you can handle right away. Make sure you ease yourself into your workout routine. Going too hard right away can make you too sore and not feel good, discouraging you from continuing. You also run the risk of injuries when you overdo it right away. Working yourself in slowly will give you the best chance of reaching your goals and not make you want to give up before you’ve really gotten started.

2) Poor technique
This is one of the biggest red flags for people starting to workout. If you are unsure what to do or if you are doing the exercise properly then make sure you seek out professional help. Poor technique can often lead to injury which in turn will make you quit going to the gym. Exercise
should be making you healthier, not causing pain. Muscle soreness may be expected but you should not be experiencing joint or other pain and if you are it may be from exercise being performed incorrectly.

3) Repetitive routine
If you are going to the gym and doing the same thing every time it is normal to get bored. Make sure you are changing up what you are doing so that you stay motivated to keep working to your goals! It’s also good to change up what you are doing to help confuse your muscles and
challenge yourself.

4) Rest and Recovery
This is very important to not only maintain motivation and avoid becoming discouraged but also for seeing results and avoiding injury. Making sure you have the proper rest in between workouts will allow muscles to recover and grow and be ready for your next workout. When
targeting specific muscle groups you should give 48-72 hours of rest before working that muscle group again. This does not mean you can not workout two days in a row but make sure you are not overtraining certain muscle groups. 2-3 days of strength training supplemented with a cardio routine is a great start and you can always increase days after you become comfortable with
this.