Readers Respond: Help Others Avoid the Exercise Training Mistakes You Made.

Responses: 15

Getting fit requires patience, consistency and progression, but it also helps to know what not to do.

What was your biggest exercise training mistake? Share your advice and help others avoid the same exercise training mistakes you made. Share Your Wisdom

arrive at an event EARLY

A few years ago I ran an out of town 8K race. I didn't arrive in enough time to properly warm up or hydrate or calm my pre-race jitters. I also worked overtime the day before! As a result I was tired, edgy, crampy and dehydrated during the race. My time wasn't bad but it certainly wasn't an easy go! I realize I needed to have a disastrous race in order to enjoy the many good races I've had since.

—Madscribbler

Bravado

One of the biggest training mistakes I made was trying to be stronger than I was in the gym. At my old gym it was male bravado vs. strong girls. Us woman had to fight for a position by the mirror and for pull up bars. So one day in the heat of the struggle I jumped up and started to do pull ups, though I cannot do one, and pull my pec minor, just by trying to stand up for girls in the gym. Silly move! And painful.

—Guest chelsea paul

Exercise Training Mistake

I made a mistake having the wrong form when sqatting 315 pounds and injured my back. I was comming up and rounded my back and felt a pain and it got worst as the days went on, I had to take some time off from working out and let it rest. It eventually went away and I got back to working out. Keep the proper form when you are working out.

—Guest Kevin

The Terrible Too's ! ! !

My past training mistake w/running would be what I read appropriately titled 'the terrible too's meaning that I did too much too soon, too much too far, too much too fast and expecting quicker results way too soon. I have had to learn the hard way by injuring myself w/my left knee which landed my up with a visit w/an orthopedic surgeon. He said there was tendinitis plus water in the knee. He recommended physical therapy & stopping of all running of course for months. I couldn't go up/down stairs. I have learned that I need to have patience, consistency, perservence and a positive outlook about my training program. With working it that way in conjunction w/diet change, 100 lbs have now come off in a year. When I can't get out there & run, I can't beat myself up for it. I have to say to myself that it is ok & I will have plenty of other days to get out there You have to cut yourself some slack. A mistake I am currently making is by not incoporating strength training w/in my program

—dakotarose24

Not Patient After Injury

I sustained a dramatic hamstring pull playing ultimate frisbee. I returned to play as soon as it felt better, and re-tore it... three times. I don't like standing on the sidelines.

—georgert

Lengthy Training Sessions

My biggest mistake was thinking that in order to get a good workout, I had to be in the gym for hours at a time. Anything less & I wasn't dedicated! We now know that taking much more than an hour for a strength workout increases catabolism. Ideal strength workouts should be from 45-60 minutes. If you're regularly taking longer than this, your workout needs to be re-designed.

—Guest Steve Zawrotny, MS, CSCS

Training Mistake

Hi my mistake was that i was doing squats without a weight belt and i wore fitted jeans just because i was to lazy to change clothes and get my weight belt.I would knot do that again.

—Guest Leon Stephens

ignoring injuries

not training the whole body evenly and ignoring injuries. Ignoring achilles tendon pain for 3 years led to me having surgery.

—Guest Indifference

bonking

Twice I've bonked on long bike rides because I didn't bring any food. Now I try to plan ahead and bring a snack - nuts, energy bar, or just a basic PB&J works if I remember to pack it.

—Guest jillian

Not a Full Body Workout

I was one of those guys that focused more on bench strength and was not consistent in working my back or shoulders. That philosophy, which isn't mine alone, caused me to have a problem with my right rotator cuff. Now I know that I do need to work the entire frame of my body, and have improved my overall health and fitness.

—Guest Bill

Doing what they do

Biggest workout mistake was copying someone else's workout that wan't right for me. I like coming up with my own training plan based upon how I feel and what I need on a given day. An off-the-shelf training plan is not the way to go. A great training plan needs to be customized.

—Guest BrianSoccerDude

Inconsistent

My biggest mistake is always the same - inconsistency. I'm such a fair-weather exerciser and work out once a week or so that I always end up with some weird pain for a few days after. If I could change anything, it would be to workout out every other day without fail. Wish me luck.

—Guest Inconsistent

Going to the gym

I went to the gym for years and hated it. It was such a chore, but now I exercise outside and do a lot of real things and got better results and have more fun. Some days I walk, or bike or run, or just walk to work or shopping and carry a backpack. I also have a lot more free time without the gym/ For some people the gym makes sense but not for me.

—Guest TammyTH

Eating after exercise

I think I would overeat after exercise falsely believing I burned way more calories than I did. I never lost weight until I reduced my calorie intake by quite a bit - even when I exercised an hour at the gym 4-5 days a week. Bummer, huh? But I did get muscles and some definition. And I feel a lot better than before.

—Guest KELL

too much enthusiasm

The first day I ran I felt so good I went way too far and paid for it handsomely for the next 3 days. The muscle soreness comes on after the fact, so don't assume you won't be sore if you feel fine during the workout! Stick with a slow progression plan, no matter how you feel on day one!

—Guest tyler