Work Out Mistakes That Slow Down Results

Don't: Sacrifice good form for speed
Do: Slow down and stand tall
High intensity exercise may burn lots of calories, but not if you're hanging on to the handrails for dear life. It is important to focus on your form, even if that means lowering your intensity. You recruit fewer muscles and burn fewer calories when you're slouched over. The same goes for strength training. Standing while lifting weights can boost your calorie burn by 50 calories per half hour.

Don't: Exercise while parched
Do: Sip at least 15 ounces of water two hours before working out
Nearly every cell in the body is composed of water - without it, they don't function efficiently during exercise. You'll fatigue faster and your workout will feel tougher than it should. So keep sipping during and after your session to replenish what you lose through sweat.

Don't: Read a novel on the treadmill
Do: Listen to music
Reading while exercising is so distracting that you're probably working at an intensity too low to burn a significant amount of calories. Instead, turn on some tunes to increase the duration and intensity of your session.

Don't: Run if you hate it
Do: Pick a cardio routine that's fun
No matter how many calories an activity promises to burn, if you don't enjoy it, you'll be less likely to do it and you won't reap the benefits. Find a workout you want to do, rather than one you feel like you have to do.

Don't: Trust gym-machine calorie-burn estimates
Do: Track your burn with a heart rate monitor
Recent research presented at the National Strength and Conditioning Conference found that elliptical trainers often over-estimate calorie burn by an average of thirty percent. To ensure you're burning the number of calories you want, consider investing in a heart rate monitor.