You may have noticed some changes to Blogitness! As I am just a few short weeks away from completing a second Master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, I really want to focus on fitness and nutrition education on my blog. While I’ll still be including personal experiences, fun and non-fitness related items, look for much more informative blog posts!
Additionally, be on the lookout for more exciting giveaways!
As my blog continues to grow, I am always looking for suggestions. I gladly accept and consider all suggestions thrown my way!
If you attend the gym regularly or workout on your own consistently, that is fantastic news! However, no matter how regularly you exercise, you could be making your workout painful or less effective by not executing proper form of each exercise. Here are some of the common mistakes you might just be making.
Crunches
Your mistake: overdoing it on the crunches. If you think the only way to get the abs you desire is by doing crunches, guess again. Too many crunches can actually hurt your back.
How to fix it: Cut back on your crunches – keep in mind you can still complete crunches just don’t overdo it. Mix in some core-stabilization exercises or consider signing up for a Pilates or yoga class.
Push-Ups
Your mistake: Positioning your hands wider than your shoulders. This places strain on the front of your shoulders with each push-up you complete.
How to fix it: Assume the right position. Your wrist should be positioned directly underneath of your shoulders. This move will help to tone your chest and triceps without hurting your shoulders.
Hurdler’s Stretches
Your mistake: Twisting your knee during hurdler stretches. If your foot is turned outward during the stretch, your knee becomes compressed, which can leave it more susceptible to injury.
How to fix it: Rotate your bent knee outward to that the sole of your foot presses on your inner thigh, and then reach for your toes to feel the stretch.
Overhead Presses
Your mistake: Placing strain on your back and shoulders by arching backwards so that your ribs pop out.
How to fix it: Make sure your knees are slighty bent and your ribs are down as you press your dumbbells in the direction of the ceiling.
Lunges
Your mistake: Doing wimpy lunges, are you taking baby steps when you lunge? This can place stress on the front of your knee – which can lead to strains and even worse – over time – the development of arthritis.
How to fix it: Take a big step forward when you lunge. Make sure your front heel is approximately two feet behind your back knee as you bend it forward in the direction of the floor.
