Recently, many YouTube channels and websites have been releasing daily and weekly videos to help motivate people to start making healthier decisions. These videos and articles are intended for users who are willing to start a new, fresh mindset that would allow them to envision a healthy future ahead. Not only do YouTubers create fitness content, but they also include some of their healthy diets. However, on the downside, people, including athletes, do not understand how much is too much when it comes to working the body. This poor influence on teens and adults is a major problem. 

There are several ways of  knowing when your body needs some rest or breaks. To rightfully refrain from causing weakness to your body’s muscles, it is crucial to recognize which weight works best for you. If you are not sure about the right weight, examine through the dumbbell section and try to pick out the lightest weight first. If the weight is not sufficient for your level, try proceeding to the next heavy weighted dumbbell. Make sure that the dumbbell you are carrying is not too heavy because remember, the purpose of a dumbbell is to target certain muscles. Between workout exercises, try taking some breaks and resting your body. However, make sure that you are lifting weights under the supervision of a weight room coach or somebody with experience. Lifting with little or no experience can lead to injuries, so make sure someone is there to supervise. Whether it is running or physical body workouts involved, you should realize when your body is feeling pain. The pain should indicate when you should start resting. Overworking the body does not make you lose more weight; it only risks causing you serious health injuries. 

When you first enter the gym, you might notice people working out till they pass out. But in reality, those bulky looking people have strong stamina and strength because they are so used to the physical working environment. Coach Lemas, AHS’ Head Baseball Coach and PE teacher explains, “Lifters should be aware of the amount of weight they are lifting.” He notices how heavy weights can lead to harmful results. “Lifting heavy weights generally causes techniques to be compromised, thus increasing the risk of injury.” However, those people should not encourage you to start working at a high pace. 

Another AHS PE teacher, Ms. Frandsen stated, “Don’t start with too high of expectations, you don’t want to lose motivation or get hurt.” Instead, working at your own pace can benefit you more in how you perform and feel. Another important tip to keep in mind is to constantly stay hydrated. Water is required when you start to constantly sweat; it regulates your body temperature and lubricates your joints. Not only does it hydrate you, but it also gives you a type of motivation to continue working out. 

Overworking the body can cause serious health conditions such as fatigue, weakness in muscles, and a higher risk of heart attacks. Other conditions include, “tearing muscles and ligaments which are injuries that can take a significant amount of time to heal depending on how severe they are,” mentioned AHS’ PE teacher, Mr. Franz. This can primarily be caused by forcing the body to work fast or causing the heart to beat at an abnormal rate. 

According to Yegfitness, a journalist from the website, TJ Salder stated, “Overworking your body can come with a host of consequences.” Consequences such as immense weight loss are common to many young adults. Balancing out the weight you lose and the amount of food you eat is important to everyone. 

So whether it is the next time you run around a track or walk into a gym, try considering important factors that will benefit you physically and mentally. Do what is best for your physical strengths and capabilities because it can make a huge difference when starting a new healthy lifestyle.  

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