We all know that exercise and a healthy diet are good for us, but it can be hard to know exactly what you should (and shouldn’t) do for a productive fitness routine. To help you achieve your health goals, we spoke to some seasoned personal trainers about all the things you should never do.<\/p>\n
From fasting before the gym to excessive amounts of cardio, below are eight things personal trainers never want you to do.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t overdo the cardio<\/strong> Don’t fast before working out<\/strong> Don\u2019t eat candy<\/strong> Don\u2019t skip out on water<\/strong>
\n\u201cConstant cardiovascular exercise interferes with the body\u2019s ability to recover from strenuous workouts,\u201d says Eric the Trainer<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Eric P. Fleishman, a celebrity fitness expert and host of Celebrity Sweat<\/em>. \u201cThis can often lead to burnout and injury.” Fleishman also suggests that excessive cardio exercise lowers your body\u2019s natural immune system, which can then open up the possibility of contracting colds and viruses. With this in mind, he advises keeping the cardio sessions to 20 minutes a few days per week.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cYou\u2019ll quickly realize how ineffective your physical, cognitive, and processing abilities are without eating food,\u201d Fleishman says. This can cause any weight loss you\u2019re striving for to be short-lived, as once the body switches from starvation mode, it then suddenly switches to turn food into fat.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cCandy is made primarily of sugar, which is the leading cause of diabetes, obesity, and behavioral problems in adults and children,\u201d Fleishman suggests. But if you can\u2019t resist the siren song of sweets, he recommends eating healthier alternatives, such as berries, dates, or Quest Nutrition protein bars. “These choices allow you to enjoy the same flavor and texture of your favorite foods without the sugar and excess calories,” he says.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI never want my clients to become dehydrated,\u201d says Steve Stonehouse, USATF-certified coach and director of education for STRIDE.<\/a>\u00a0“Dehydration is not only very hard on your body, but it also tricks your mind into thinking that you’re hungry. This can actually cause you to eat more than you\u2019d like.”<\/p>\n