Time for Exercise

Working out is good for you, but it can also be hazardous. People get injured all the time in gyms, playing sports or working out on their own. However, if you are careful and do things right you can decrease the odds that you will be injured. No guarantees, of course, merely lower odds.

First of all, start slowly. I mean this both in terms of your overall fitness goals and within each workout. Just as you probably won’t start out at your eventual fitness goals, you should not start at your peak level each day.

Do some warmup exercises before you start exercising… even before you do your stretching. Some light biking or walking is perfect for getting the blood flowing and the heart rate up just a little bit.

Don’t hold your breath as you exercise, even when straining to lift a weight. Breathe out as your muscle is working, in as it relaxes.

If you are one any medications, talk to your doctor about how it will impact your exercise routine. Some medications will impact your heart rate, so you won’t be able to use that measure to tell if you are working too hard. Similarly, if you are sick be more careful about how hard you exercise.

Use safety equipment appropriately. That means helmets when out riding a bike. That also means buying the right kind of shoes to support your feet for walking, jogging or playing sports.

Drink enough fluids. You don’t have to overdo it, but you do need to keep hydrated as you work out.

When you bend, try to keep your back straight. This is good advice even when you aren’t exercising. It’s good for cleaning house, lifting heavy items… any time that you’re bending. Back injuries are really miserable.

If anything you do as you exercise hurts or leaves you excessively tired, you’re probably doing something wrong. A little tired, a little sore is okay, but being in pain or feeling wiped out is not.