14 Things Your Personal Trainer Wishes You Knew

Working out is a crucial part in getting a healthy and functioning body, but you have to do it right. There are a lot of common mistakes that people make when working out that actually undercut all the hard work you're doing.

Repetition is Sometimes Better than Weight

Your workout is not based on being able to life 20 pounds today and 30 tomorrow. Often lifting 10 pounds more times than you did yesterday is more beneficial than being able to lift more weight. However if you want to build muscle you still need to increase the weight once in a while.

Weights are for Men and Women

Lifting weights is not going to make a woman manly, nor is not lifting weights going to make a man feminine. Toning muscle for both genders is beneficial for health, strength and happiness.

Changing Your Routine is for Your Benefit

You have to change your routine every once in a while. Your body gets used to what you are doing and will burn calories slower and build muscle slower so you need to mix it up sometimes.

Fat is a Necessary Part of Life

Stop thinking that fat is the route of all evil, there truly is such a thing as good fat. Saturated fats are good for our health and can keep our bodies functioning at their optimal levels.

Cardio is Not the Only Answer

Sure cardio is great for weight loss and your heart but it won’t change your metabolism. You will burn calories but if you want lean muscles you have to do more than just cardio.

Stop Trying to Get Rid of Carbs

Carbohydrates are actually good for you when eaten for the right purpose. If you are going to the gym you should eat carbs because they actually help your endurance and help replenish the glycogen you lose during a workout.

Sports Drinks Cannot Replace Water

No amount of sports drink can replace your need for water. Sure some of them can help replace electrolytes and quench thirst, but they will never hydrate you fully.

You Have Two of Nearly Everything

You have muscles on your right and left side, your body is almost a mirror when cut in the middle. You need to remember that both muscles need to grow together too or you will have problems in the future. Don’t focus on your dominant side, do them equally.

Protein is for Both Sexes

Women think protein will make them manlier and build more muscle, but protein is an essential part of both genders diets. Protein will help stabilize your blood sugars and help your muscles avoid injury.

You are Not Anyone Else

Stop comparing yourself to your neighbor, your friend, or that magazine. Your body is different and will require a specific amount of work to reach your goals. You might have to work harder than your neighbor, and that neighbor might have to work harder than you. Stop beating yourself up about it.

Crunches are Not the Only Way

We all want a flat belly, but crunches only work a few muscles. Adding a plank, and other belly motions to your routine is working the whole stomach and will have better results.

Hollywood is Not Real

Unless you have unlimited amounts of money you cannot transfer from fat to fabulous overnight, even with money you can’t always do that. You will have to take time, dedication, and work to reach your goals, there is no 10 minute workout that will do it for you.

Eating Right has to Happen All the Time

Just because you just worked out doesn’t mean you now can reward yourself with something horrible for you. You will undo everything you did. Also, eating bad now because you will work out tomorrow won’t benefit you at all.

Even with a Trainer it is Still Up to You

Just because you are paying a trainer to help you with your workout doesn’t mean your workout is going to all the sudden be easier. A trainer will push you, keep you on track, and know what is safe and healthy, but you still have to do the work to get the results. Once a week is not going to do it.