How do you work out? If you’ve ever experienced an injury due to a botched workout routine, you know how irritating it can be to be out of commission for a while.  Do you make these common workout mistakes?

1. Too Much, Too Soon

One of the most common exercise mistakes men make it doing too much too soon. If you haven’t worked out since college and an article you just read has inspired you to get in shape, great! Just don’t overdue it. If you’re like most men, once you set your mind to something, you’re committed and want to give it 110%.
However, if you pay a gym membership and spend hours exercising the first night, you’re going to be a world of pain the next day. Plus, this all-or-nothing approach can cause serious injury and will lessen the likelihood you’ll return for another workout.

2. Overworking One Body Part

If you’re a bodybuilder and get most of your exercise from weight training, it’s important to find balance. No matter how sculpted you want your upper body, resist the temptation to focus only on this one area unless you want to look like this guy.

3. Choosing the Wrong Workout

Another common workout mistake men make is choosing the wrong workout. Instead of following your buddy’s exercise routine or just picking gym equipment at random, spend time with a professional fitness trainer who can help you tailor a diet and exercise plan designed just for your fitness goals. You can do this by hiring a fitness trainer, signing up for a fitness bootcamp or simply taking advantage of the fitness trainers at your local gym.

4. Overestimating Your Strength

This is a common workout mistake for men who are just getting started. You might think it makes you look macho to walk into the weight room and bench press 200 pounds right off the bat but you can cause serious injury to your body if you overestimate your strength.
The same goes for endurance. Don’t try to run a marathon if the most exercise you’ve gotten in the past year or so is a walk from the car to the grocery store. Start small and work your way up. This advice is especially important for seniors looking to improve their fitness.

5. Not Warming Up

We get it, you’re enthused about working out but before you hit the weight room or the racquet ball court, make sure you take the time to warm up. Just 5-10 minutes of gentle stretching and jumping jacks (or rope) improves your circulation and gets your body primed for an injury-free workout.
If you’ve made one or more of these exercise mistakes in the past, don’t feel bad. Unless you’ve spent hours pouring over fitness material or hired a personal trainer, you’re not going to know all there is to know about working out, even if you’ve been doing it for years. Everything in life requires balance, even your workout routine.