Even the most well-intentioned athlete can fall victim to some of the most common mistakes with their training. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the details and miss the forest for the trees. It’s important to take a step back, eliminate emotion and bias, and evaluate your training at face value every once in a while. You might find that you are making one of these all-too-common mistakes. The good news is, though, that once the mistake is uncovered you can make adjustments, and improvements will be soon to follow!

1. Doing Too Much Too Soon

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is doing too much too soon. It usually comes with good intentions because when you start a new training plan, you’re highly motivated, and letting that motivation lead your training routine feels natural. 

Unfortunately, motivation ebbs and flows, and when your motivation starts to wane, you won’t be able to keep up with the aggressive training routine you’ve set. In fact, doing too much too soon can be the exact thing that leads you to burn out and lack motivation.  Fatigue, an inability to keep up with your other responsibilities, and an overly busy schedule, are all unsustainable things and will eventually lead to roadblocks in your training routine. 

Finally, doing too much too soon can also lead to injuries and illness which will plague your training, prohibit you from making improvements, and ultimately diminish your motivation as well. 

2. Inconsistency

Inconsistency is probably the single largest training mistake that I see people make time and time again. A lack of consistency will prevent you from making improvements and make it very difficult to get into a rhythm. It’s ok if you can’t train every day, but the best thing you can do is set a plan that works for your schedule and stick to it. Once the plan becomes a part of your routine, you’re much more likely to see it through. Improvements take time and so you need to be able to stick to a plan long enough to watch your improvements materialize. 

As you develop your training plan keep in mind that it’s always better to train for short amount of time frequently than for a long period of time once in a while. If you only have 3 hours per week to commit to training, it’s better to complete 4x 45-minute workouts than one 3-hour workout. 

3. Not Fueling the Work

When you start to increase your training, you’ll need to increase your caloric intake as well. Your body won’t be able to support your training, and definitely won’t be able to make gains, if you are restricting your fuel. It’s important to listen and honor your body’s hunger response, especially when you start or increase your training. Carbohydrates will be your best friend to fuel your training during and between sessions. Don’t forget about the ever-important macronutrient, protein, because protein will help you build muscle and improve your recovery. 

4. Pursuing Too Big of Goals

It’s great to have big hopes and dreams that you can aspire to for long periods, but it’s almost important to have smaller, timely, and realistic goals that can drive you from day to day. If your goal is too big or too far off, an athlete can quickly become discouraged. It’s too easy to feel like you won’t get there or like what you’re doing isn’t enough. When you have smaller, more bite-sized goals, you get rewarded by consistently taking steps toward the goal and even checking the goal off of your list. 

5. Monotony

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”

is a quote often credited to Albert Einstein. The body needs novel stimulus in order to make improvements. Make sure that you are switching up the types of training you are doing so that your body is forced to adapt and respond. In addition, mixing up your training will keep things interesting and keep you more engaged with your workouts. Don’t get sucked in to doing the same thing every day. 

You Got This

Even though there are numerous pitfalls you can make when starting a training routine, the biggest error you could commit is never to start at all. Begin by congratulating yourself for taking a step toward your goals, then hone in on the specific ways you’ll get there. 

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