5 Tips To Stay Protected At The Gym During Workouts

Once we get into a new phase of our lives we tend to go in guns blazing, at least I know that’s how I act. Instead of easing into exercises, once I think running or exercising in the gym is for me I tend to go all out. Whilst this level of enthusiasm is warranted and expected, it often tends to lead to unforeseen circumstances such as injuries.

I’ve had my fair share of hobbies during growing up so I’ve seen this happen to me and my friends more often than not and even to this day, I still like to put all of my energy into whatever I’m doing. And don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with this.

But one thing that we should consider, especially when going to the gym is how we can prevent injury from occurring? One of the main things that we can do is stay protected, and no I don’t mean from the people going to the gym but for ourselves. This can be done by having the right gear and equipment when heading to the gym.

By having, say, the right shoes, or post-workout routines we can ensure that we remain injury-free and continue with our new passion without the need to recover longer than we should or god forbid, get injured. So what are some of the ways we can prevent injuries? Check out the below 5 tips to help you get started if you’ve just joined a gym.

5 Tips To Stay Protected At The Gym During Workouts

1. Invest in the correct workout shoes

Don’t go to the gym in your flats that you’re wearing to work and are completely worn out, or like me wearing your casual vans sneakers. If you’re going to the gym you’re going to need the right workout shoes for the job.

Depending on if you’re into CrossFit or just doing casual gym exercises or running, there’s always going to be the right shoe depending on what you want for the job. Usually, gym shoes are flat, whilst running shoes have a high heel. CrossFit or cross-exercise shoes are usually more all-rounders. Make sure you pick the right ones depending on what you’re doing at the gym.

1. Get some workout gloves

By having the right workout gloves for the gym, you can prevent callouses from appearing on your hands (For you males out there, I guess this is of no concern) but for you females, I’m sure you don’t want rough hands (Well, most of you anyway) so definitely consider some gloves, especially if you’re lifting weights.

1. Make sure your diet is in check

Once you start going to the gym, your body is going to be asking for a lot more protein to repair muscle damage that has occurred as a result of your training. Stay focused on getting the right nutrients and drinking plenty of water to ensure all the vitamins and minerals travel through ensuring you recover well.

1. Compression clothing

Having compression clothing can help circulate your blood more as well as prevent injury as it’s keeping everything nice and tight.

1. Start slowly, and work your way up

The worst thing you can do when you start the gym is lifting weights heavier than you’re capable of. Especially if you haven’t trained in a while. Consider gently easing into your workouts. Maybe on the first week focus on cardio and all-rounder exercises to get all your muscles activated. Don’t worry, they’ll definitely be sore.

Once you’ve gradually worked your way into a routine and your muscles have accustomed to the workouts then start adding more resistance to your workouts, and ensure that you focus on form instead of weight.

Conclusion

It is great that you’ve taken the initiative to start exercising, getting healthy and fit but make sure that you don’t compensate that for injury. Start off slow, get the right gear and your body will thank you for it later down the track.

Marko Rakic is a trail runner and fitness enthusiast from Sydney, Australia. He is the lead writer for The Ultimate Primate and believes the best way to live a happy life is to take a holistic approach to fitness and health.