Staying in shape is about more than just exercising every day and eating well. It’s also about what you do while you are exercising and what you do before and after you exercise.
Healthy habits will support a more toned body while unhealthy ones can do more harm than you think. Here are some unhealthy habits that can be getting in the way of staying in shape.
#1. You’re Not Eating the Right Foods
Many people eat what they believe is a healthy diet and wonder why they are not getting in shape. However, even if you are avoiding eating unhealthy food, you also need the right kind of healthy food to support a formed physique.
Protein is the most important building block of a healthy body. It helps the body’s recovery and it helps repair sore muscles. Protein also takes longer to break down, so it boosts fat metabolism.
It is also a good idea to get some healthy carbs. Carbs will keep your blood sugar steady and give you a much-needed dose of energy.
And while the jury is out on whether or not you should be exercising on an empty stomach, most say it is advisable to get some sort of food in you before working out.
Experts recommend getting glucose in your system exercising. This is because when blood sugar is low, your body extracts glycogen from the muscle tissues. This means you lose muscle instead of building it. It can also cause weakness and dizziness.
#2. Not Getting Enough Sleep
Adults need at least 7 hours of sleep every night, but most adults just don’t get the recommended amount. If you are not getting enough sleep, it can get in the way of your fitness goals.
Sleep helps your muscles recover. Without the proper amount of sleep, your muscles will feel sore from your last workout and you won’t be able to exercise at full intensity.
Sleep also helps reduce stress. In doing so, it reduces cortisol levels that are responsible for balancing hormones such as testosterone and the human growth hormone (HGH).
What’s more, the right amount of sleep will help you feel energized, so you are more likely to exercise and more likely to do so effectively.
#3. You Have Poor Form
When people hit the gym, many of them don’t even realize how poor their form is.
Poor form will keep you from getting the most out of your exercise. More than that, it can cause you to become injured. The injuries you get can keep you out of the gym for quite some time interfering with any progress you might be making.
It is a good idea to work with a personal trainer or instructor to ensure you are using the proper form to avoid injuries and make the most of your time in the gym.
#4. You Stick to Only One Type of Exercise
Many people stick to only one type of exercise when they are working out. This can be detrimental when it comes to getting in shape.
Cardio, in particular, is a type of exercise many people swear by. And while cardio does provide a maximum calorie burn, overdoing it can minimize strength, cause muscle atrophy and get in the way of fat loss. The damage cardio does can be even worse on a calorie-restricted diet.
To make sure you are getting a good combination in your workout routine, try HIIT training. This type of workout combines cardio and strength training and alternates short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less intense recovery periods to ensure you are getting a mix of everything. It is effective in promoting calorie burn and muscle tone.
If you have been trying to get in shape and are wondering what’s holding you back, these bad habits could be to blame. Think about how you can eliminate them from your routine so you can achieve your fitness goals more easily.
