With as busy as life can get these days, quality over quantity is a good rule of thumb when it comes to getting exercise. Not only are long workouts exhausting, but they’re not realistic for most people’s schedules. Putting care into your technique and being present for a shorter period of time will make exercising regularly easier, and it will be sure to yield steady results. We asked sports performance and fitness specialist Denise Cervantes what common mistakes you might be making when it comes to your workouts, and what you should be doing every week instead to get the most out of them.
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First and foremost, Cervantes emphasizes the importance of technique to see results and prevent injury. “I love to tell my clients and classes “every rep needs to be perfect in order for results to be perfect!” and they love it. If you are unable to use perfect form you can be wasting your time. With lazy reps you are underusing the muscle you intend to work, creating lackluster results or no results at all,” she says, “When you go into your routine, make sure you are laser focused on what muscle you want to give the work to and use that muscle. For example, in a bicep curl learn how to open up at the elbow and nit use the momentum of a swinging body to get your bicep curl up. Brace your body and focus on using the bicep to work the rep, feeling the blood flow into the bicep.” If you’re on a budget and can’t afford a trainer, (which is the majority of people!) watching videos can be helpful to make sure you’re holding the right poses. All in all, remembering to go slow and really lean into each movement is essential in making sure you don’t strain your muscles or injure yourself.
Although poor technique is one of the biggest mistakes people can make, Cervante shares other pieces of advice when it comes to making sure your body is able to perform at its best.
“Hydration is great when we are involved in any workout routine, but not just hydrating during your workout. You need to make sure to hydrate as part of your daily routine. In the morning, afternoon, evening—make sure to get the hydration in. This will benefit you in your workouts, keep you focused and assist your recovery, keeping you ready for the next workout.”
While using good technique and staying hydrated are important, sometimes we lack in these areas when life gets busy. In times like these, it’s important to remember that progress is more important than perfection. “Remember that progress will never be linear. The journey to your goal looks like a jagged line towards your goal with many ups and many downs. If you stay consistent, you are still on the way to your goal.”
