10 Activities To Avoid If You Are Overweight
If you are overweight, you may be thinking of increasing your physical activity in hopes of maintaining a healthier and more manageable physique. While starting an exercise regimen is a great plan for helping your body run more efficiently, it is important to go about this the right way. Trying too much too soon will not only increase your mental stress, but will end up putting too much strain on your body, keeping you from continuing your new healthy lifestyle. Check out these 10 activities to avoid to ensure that your body stays strong.
Activities That Hurt
Exercising usually causes at least some soreness for everyone, especially right at first. Although a little discomfort is common, feeling excessive pain is a sign that your body is not ready for whatever you are doing.
If you are carrying a lot of extra weight, you need to accommodate your joints and muscles by not putting too much pressure on them. As you lose weight and your body gets used to the extra movement, you can increase your intensity. Don’t be afraid to start off slow!
Excessive Workouts
By going hard right away, you may psyche yourself out. While it is good to push yourself, working out every day for hours on end will do more harm than good. You will likely get burnt out, then abandon your diet and exercise routine altogether.
Set small, simple goals at first, then slowly work your way up as you see how your mind and body react. You want to establish an entire lifestyle change, so the mental aspect is just as important as the physical.
Exercises That You Hate
If you hate doing something, then it will be very hard to stick with it. Everybody has some part of their diet and exercise routine that they probably do not love, but if you find yourself dreading a certain activity, ditch it.
Spending your day anxious about your upcoming workout is no way to live life. Try changing things up by looking for something more inventive and fun, like dance classes or shooting hoops. Anything that gets you moving will help.
Activities Done Alone
Sometimes exercising alone feels great, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. But try to find at least one activity that you can do in a group setting. Whether it is a weekly class offered at the gym or regular walks with friends, exercising with others is an excellent way to hold yourself accountable.
On top of that, having people around to encourage you and cheer you on through the tougher parts is great for staying motivated.
Demeaning Group Exercises
If you find yourself in an exercise group that leaves you feeling bad about yourself, then maybe it isn’t the right fit. When you finish a workout you should feel empowered and proud about what you accomplished.
There is nothing wrong with quitting one class in hopes of finding something new that you might really enjoy. When it comes to gyms, there are usually tons of different classes offered, so find a group that encourages, rather than belittles, you.
Routines You Cannot Commit To
Staying active is a lifestyle choice that needs to be part of your routine forever. If you are picking routines that you hate, thinking that you only need to do them until you hit a certain weight, then it is time to change your mindset.
Find exercises that you like to do and that you can see yourself doing on a consistent basis for years to come. Running is a great place to start because you can set a steady pace and there is always opportunity to set new goals. If that’s not your thing, find what works for you, then stick with it.
Activities That Threaten Your Health
Health issues are never something to take lightly. If you have pre-existing conditions that put limits on what your body can do, never test those limits. There are plenty of low-key workouts that will keep you moving, while minimizing the amount of stress put on your joints and muscles.
Water exercises are great if you are looking for something less intense. If you have a medical issue, be sure to clear it with your doctor before engaging in any exercise routines.
Using Machines That Do Not Work
Sometimes when overweight people go to the gym, they find themselves facing countless machines that are not accommodating to people with their body type. Do not try to force a workout with equipment that is not suited to you. Not only is this inconvenient and frustrating, but it is unsafe, as well.
If you find that you cannot do the exercise correctly, you could end up experiencing unnecessary injuries or joint pains. Do not get discouraged. Rather, find what works for you. Take a walk, ride a bike, or try a different gym.
Goals That Do Not Interest You
Setting goals is a great idea for trying to lose weight and kick off a healthy lifestyle. Yet, if you are setting goals based off of what other people think is best, without looking to your own judgement, you might find yourself failing to reach them.
You need to base your workouts on the results that you want, not what other people want for you. Your body is your own and you have every right to decide what is best for you.
Goals That Do Not Challenge You
While trying things you hate rarely works out well, that does not mean you should always take the easiest path. Reaching challenging goals is great for boosting your self-esteem and keeps you motivated to always be pushing forward.
Try basing your goals on something that you have always wanted to do, but never could because of your weight. If you like running, then say you want to run a 5K by a certain date. Or maybe you want to get through a full game of baseball without getting too tired to continue. Goals can be fun and challenging, so put on your thinking cap and find what works best for you!