An active lifestyle (exercising regularly) not only makes you look young but also lives a long, healthy life. However, certain mistakes in doing exercises can end up doing more harm than good.
If you think it is just having a paunch or a large belly that is making you look older, the exercise routine you follow and how you exercise also are responsible. Most people know overdoing certain exercises can injure you and cause health issues. Here are some other mistakes you might not know that you are making while exercising that can make you look older.
Are You Making These Five Exercise Mistakes?
Mistake # 1
Neglecting Your Back Posture
No matter how hard you work out, if you are not maintaining a good posture when you exercise, the workout will do more harm than good. A stiff back or poor posture tends to curve your spine, make you bend or hunch and cause several health issues. It is very essential you spend time practicing posture-perfecting exercises to avoid signs of slowness and prevent aging. Keep in mind, that a bad posture can make you look much older than you are.
Related Post: Posture & Back Health
Mistake # 2
Focusing Solely On Cardio
Whereas cardio makes for an effective weight loss exercise, doing excessive cardio can, in fact, be a bad thing for your body. Besides cardio, you need to do strength training because if your muscles and bones do not get enough exercise, they will wear and tear, and moreover, your body will slow down. New workout guidelines recommend that all healthy adults should do weight-bearing exercises or focus on strength training exercises 2-3 times per week. What’s more? Strength training not only tones up your muscles, but you also continue to burn calories for quite some even after you pause working out.
Related Post: Cardio or Strength Training – Which Is Better?
Mistake # 3
Ignoring Pelvic Exercises
Pelvic exercises may seem harder, but nevertheless, they are important. After an age, your pelvic floor muscles start losing strength, and if not exercised religiously, they can cause problems in and around your abdominal area, and kidneys and create urinary inconsistency. Kegel (like bridges) is one exercise you should include in your regime.
Mistake # 4
Skipping Stretches
Stretching before and after your main workout session is a part you should not neglect. If you bypass this essential step, you can develop tension in your muscles and tissues, which can promote premature aging at the cellular level. Stretching also adds to the body’s flexibility and enables you to perfect your workout.
Related Post: Stretches & Flexibility
Mistake # 5
Over-Doing
Rest days are just as important as workout days. If you think that spending countless hours doing exercises will make you look ageless, you need to correct yourself. Allowing your body proper time to recover and heal is the key to maximizing exercise benefits and preventing damage to your body. It will help you reduce cortisol levels which in turn will help fight stress and ward off other health-related problems.
About Author: Renu Bakshi, AKA Fitness Buffhq, is ISSA Certified Elite Trainer. He 
passed Personal Fitness Trainer Course, Nutrition Health Coach course & Specialist Exercise Therapy course from ISSA, the USA, obtaining + 97% marks. He shares his experience and knowledge about nutrition and effective workouts to get you in the best shape of your life, no matter how old you may be. The author says: “For me, age is just a number!”