I’m a fitness expert – there are three bad habits that could be making you age faster
A FITNESS expert has revealed three bad gym habits that could actually be aging you faster.
While consistent exercise is recommended for everyone, you may be making mistakes that are hindering your fitness goals.
Most people should have variety in their training sessions including strength training and aerobic workouts.
However, the way you go about your workouts can really affect your results.
For example, training too hard too often can actually be detrimental to your health in the long run, according to fitness and nutrition coach Tim Liu.
"Although you want to work hard and push your body to get the most out of your weight training sessions, don't go overboard!" Liu .
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To get the most from your workouts, you need to be able to fully recover.
"There are only so many muscle fibers and motor units you can recruit in a single session, and any more than that turns into 'junk volume,' which means you're accumulating fatigue," he said.
Not only could you be tired, but working too hard could even make you stressed.
"When you train too much, your body also produces more cortisol, which is something to avoid at all costs," Liu said.
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Cortisol can create more stress which in turn could speed up the aging process.
"If you're strength training regularly, three to four working sets in most of your exercises should suffice, and you can incorporate a rest day or two."
Another tip Liu had for people on a fitness journey is to not overdo the HIIT workouts.
"HIIT is an awesome form of exercise," Liu said.
"You'll be burning calories at a higher rate when compared to regular cardio, in addition to boosting your metabolism and getting a solid sweat in."
However, much like Liu's first piece of advice, he said that HIIT can be difficult to fully recover from.
"Just like strength training, you want to manage fatigue, and don't overdo it," he said.
He said to limit HIIT workouts to just two days a week.
Finally, Liu said that people should prioritize zone two training in their routine.
This is basically a low-impact cardio session that could involve running, swimming, cycling, or rowing.
"Getting in aerobic work is important to improve your metabolic health, longevity, mitochondrial function, and resting heart rate," Liu said.
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"When you're not including zone two training into your routine, you miss these key health and can speed up your aging process.
"Be sure to incorporate two to three sessions of zone two training into your routine, aiming for 30 to 45 minutes in each session."