According to the National Center for Health Statistics’ 2007 figures, more than 60% of American women are overweight. Everything from lack of exercise, to an unhealthy diet, and even pregnancy can cause women to put on the pounds and shedding them has become one of the top in their list of popular New Year’s resolutions. Many choose to join a local Columbus gym to reclaim their slim figures, but as Dr. Barbara Bushman tells FitnessMagazine.com, certain mistakes can prevent you from getting the most out of your workout:
Two things could be going on here: Either your weights are too light, which is often the case for women, or they’re too heavy, and you’re letting momentum or gravity take over. Either way, your muscles aren’t being sufficiently challenged, which is why they’re not getting more toned. “To see an improvement in definition, you need to have an increase in the protein content of muscle fibers, and that happens when the muscles are stressed and being called on to exert more force,” Bushman explains.
The Solution: If you don’t believe you’ve done just about all you can do by the end of a set, pick a heavier weight. “You want there to be a bit of strain on the second-to-last and last reps,” Bushman says…
A lot of people think that as long as they sweat, they’ve had a good workout session. In reality though, a little overexertion is vital not only to strengthening muscles but also in facilitating more weight loss. When your muscles are strained, they develop microscopic tears that the body needs to repair. Healing these tiny rips requires energy which means that you’ll be burning calories even after clocking out at the gym.
To ensure a challenging but fun workout, consider getting a personal trainer in Columbus. Those at Go: Fitness, for example, work closely with clients to develop a personalized workout plan that is neither too easy nor too hard. They’ll constantly monitor your response to the workout plan and tweak it accordingly for optimal weight loss. The personalized attention also guarantees they’ll spot the little mistakes that sabotage your workout’s effectiveness.
Workouts not only help you fit better into your jeans but will also help you avoid serious health problems like stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. The best personal trainers understand the importance of workouts to your well-being and will help you reach all your fitness goals.
(Article Excerpt and Image from Oops-Proof Your Workout, FitnessMagazine.com)