The common misconceptions that people have about sports are frightening. There is always the saying that unless it hurts, it isn't doing you any good, and although strenuous exercise will hurt, many people work under the misconception of not recognizing their own limitations. Gyms are available to the general public and offer clients a variety of exercises, though short-sighted clients that are either too embarrassed or too stubborn to ask questions are using equipment, not being aware of what is best for them, given the individuality of health factors, strengths and weaknesses.

ADVICE

In a gym, there are usually trainers that are happy to go through a plan of attack to suit you. By not using these, you are not only risking your health, but you are failing to take advantage of what gyms offer apart from machinery. Try and think of the premise of giving someone a car with no instruction as to how to drive it. You may laugh, though giving a human being access to gym equipment with no plan as to which exercises suit their needs, and it really is a very similar scenario.

GETTING A PLAN INTO ACTION

Exercise plans are your way to safe gym usage. The trainer needs to know your health problems, the areas of the body you wish to work on. It isn't wise to dismiss injuries as being past. Here, back problems, heart problems and anything which may be affected by exercise really does need to come out into the open. Tell the trainer your problem areas and what you hope to achieve, and together you can work out plans that fit your needs better than guesswork, which could lead to injury.

VARYING WHAT YOU DO

People get bored with the same old exercise. Ask the trainer which machines or which weight lifting exercise will benefit you, and let him know that you need stimulation to motivate you. The gym want your business, and by giving you advice that is sound, actually encourage you to come back. Some of the tedium of treadmills can be varied by using the multi gym equipment to strengthen legs and arms, to cut down on flab, though only by discussing this will you get the benefits available to you within that gym.

FOLLOWING UP AT HOME

One of the biggest misconceptions that people have about gyms is that once they have done their allotted exercise, they can go home and eat what they like, and feel virtuous about having been to the gym. Thinking like this really is short sighted, because if you don't balance your gym activity with diet that is beneficial,

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