Fitness

7 Gym Mistakes to Stop Making This Year

How to set yourself up for success, according to fitness pros

by Wendy Rose Gould | COMMENT

PHOTO 2/8

Not Stepping Outside of Your Comfort Zone Have you ever ordered the same thing repeatedly at a restaurant only to sit down one day and learn they didn't have your favorite on the menu? But when you ordered something new, you ended up loving it just as much? The same thing happens with fitness, says Kenyatta Banks, a fitness instructor for TruFusion in Scottsdale, Arizona. It's just a matter of branching out to discover new things.

"Take group classes, ask a trainer for help, or hire one to help you with the basics until you are comfortable on your own," says Banks.

Jess Pate, a fitness instructor who also teaches at TruFusion, agrees it's important to step outside of your comfort zone both for your fitness goals and your mental strength. "It can be very scary walking into a giant gym with a bunch of people you have never met before. Rather than running away from it, run to it. The people inside the room with you have been through exactly what you are feeling — instructors included. Ask questions!" she says.

Image via Thomas Barwick/Getty

SEE NEXT PAGE: Not Sharing the Machines

EDITORS' BEST OF

12 Best Acne Products for Your Clearest Skin Yet

11 Best Tinted Moisturizers for Easy, On-the-Go Coverage