Working out is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. It helps us feel better and live longer, but there are many common mistakes both novice and experienced fitness enthusiasts make on a daily basis. Avoiding these mistakes are important if you want the best results from your workouts. A few common mistakes to avoid are:

1. Not warming up – This can lead to sprained or even torn muscles, soreness, and increased recovery time after your workout. Great warm-up exercises to get your whole body in its optimum workout state include:
   • Arm Circles
   • Shoulder Shrugs
   • Trunk Twists
   • Leg Swings
   • Lunges
   • Jumping Rope
2. Not giving your body the proper “fuel” – Before, during, and after a workout, your body needs the proper amount of fluids, carbs, protein, and nutrients. Having the proper fuel keeps you energized throughout your workout, promotes maximum muscle gain and fat loss, and helps your body recover faster so you can hit the gym again sooner.
3. Not taking time to recover – The harder you push your body during a workout, the more time you need for recovery. Neglecting to allow your body to recover means your muscles aren’t fully mended—which leads to diminished workout results and potential for injury.
4. Not getting enough sleep – Sleeping is when your body does the majority of its healing. If you have an irregular and limited sleep pattern, not only does your body have less sleep time to recover, but hormones related to recovery, stress, and mood can become unbalanced. Chiropractic care can help you get the proper sleep to promote a healthy lifestyle
5. Working out too much – Sometimes with working out, less is more. Unless you are training for the Olympics, there is no reason to work out seven hours a day. In fact, overtraining can actually lessen your workout results when you over exert your muscles. Spending the proper amount of time per day working out can help maximize your results and prevent injuries.
6. Not using proper exercise form – You only have one body and you’re trying to take care of it by working out regularly. But without the proper workout technique, your workout may be doing more harm than good. Squats, pushups, lunges, and even running can put strain on your body and cause injuries if you’re form isn’t correct. Don’t let an injury due to improper form put you on the sidelines and lose all the progress you’ve made working out.
7. Not drinking enough water – This seems pretty obvious but is often overlooked. Our body is around 60% water and muscles are over 75% water, so it makes sense to stay hydrated when you work out. Sweat releases water during a workout and must be replenished to optimize your body’s performance and avoid muscle cramps.
8. Not setting goals and tracking your progress – Working out is like a road trip—you are taking your body from point A to point B. Each exercise is another step towards your final destination. And as is true with a road trip, you want to be sure you are heading in the right direction. Carefully planning your workouts and consistently keeping track of how you perform with each exercise lets you see your progress and make sure you are on track to achieving you