by Yvonne Bridges

Created on: October 14, 2008   Last Updated: March 20, 2012

You've begun working out to get yourself into the best shape of your life. So far, you're motivated, dedicated and hardly ever miss a day at the gym. Even though it seems that you have it all together, you might be making some very common mistakes with your workout regimen.

Here's a list of the ten biggest fitness mistakes that you could be making.

Not stretching

It's recommened that you stretch at some time during your workout, preferably before most of the heavy workload begins. It has been shown that stretching helps prevent certain injuries, and helps increase your range of motion.

Progressing too quickly

With any exercise program, try to master the level you're at before moving on. Increasing the amount of weight you're lifting and the duration of your workouts slowly will give your body a proper amount of time to adjust to each new demand you put on it.

Ignoring Injuries

If you have injured yourself in some way, don't just go ahead and 'work through the pain". This will only furher aggravate any injury you might have, and might end up causing you to be unable to exercise at all. Give your injury time to heal, and work other body parts instead, if possible.

Skipping Breakfast

For those of you trying to lose weight, you might think that skipping one meal will help you reach your goal faster. This is not a healthy way to go about it, especially not if you're going straight to your workouts without having eaten anything. Your body needs the energy that a healthy breakfast provides, so if you skip it, you really are doing yourself a disservice.

Over Training

If you work out every single day, you could be giving your body less of a benefit than you think. It's necessary to give your broken down muscle tissues time to repair from the last workout you did before exercising again. It is recommended that you give your muscles at least one or two days of rest to achieve this properly.

Only Doing Weight Training

A complete fitness program needs to include both resistance and cardiovascular training to promote muscle strength as well as improved cardiovascular fitness. A workout program that only promotes one aspect of physical fitness is insufficient for overall fitness.

Only Doing Cardio

It's not wise to just do cardio based exercises. Developing and maintaining some muscle will not only give your body a better appearance and improved muscle strength, but will also insure that your fitness program is well balanced.

Never Changing Your Routine

In order to improve your level of fitness, it really is necessary to change your workout at least every few months. Your body needs new challenges every so often in order for you make forward progress in your fitness program.

Not Using Proper Form

It's very important to make sure that you are doing the exercises you perform the correct way. Otherwise, you can open yourself up to injuries, and also might not be getting the full benefits or results from the exercises that you do.

Improper Nutrition and Fad Diets

It is very important that your body gets the nutrients that it needs to give you energy for your workouts. Proper nutrition also helps aid in repairing broken down muscle tissue and quick recovery. Fad dieting and calorie deprivation can hurt and hinder your efforts to be fit by denying your body the nutrients that it needs.

When working out make sure you're not doing your body more harm than good. Employ good workout habits, and better health and fitness will follow.

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