5 Fitness Mistakes That Make You Look Older

There are plenty of things that can make you look older than you are, including the stress of daily life, nutrition choices, and even where you live! Another thing to watch out for is fitness mistakes that can cause extra wear and tear on your body, causing you to look older than you actually are. If you want to fight back against the signs of aging, pay attention to these five fitness mistakes that make you look older.

1) Running too fast

The fastest runners are usually people in their twenties and thirties. To instantly look older, run too fast. As your body ages, it becomes less efficient at moving oxygen around your body and your breathing speeds up as a result. Plus, studies have shown that running faster makes you age faster on a cellular level; when human cells were bombarded with tiny particles traveling at high speed (like wind) they stopped growing after a certain amount of time—and that's not how things should be if you want to keep aging gracefully. The lesson? Take your time on runs to look younger and feel healthier. Over-exerting yourself will have repercussions later on down the line—that much is guaranteed!

2) Crunches

Your abs are a muscle group that you use on a daily basis; they help keep your spine stable, among other things. If you're not engaging in regular training of your core muscles, they may weaken over time—which can make you look older than you are. To combat sagging skin and a weak core, stick to core-strengthening exercises like crunches or planks that engage all of your ab muscles. The stronger these muscles get, the better they will support your posture and help prevent back pain.

3) The Forward Head Posture

This is one of those poor habits that make you look older, and also gives you a stiff, older looking neck. To fix it, try and tilt your head forward so that your ear, shoulder and hip are all in a straight line. When someone does it to me I often think they're mad at me...that's how much a forward head posture gives people an angry look! I find when giving speeches or doing presentations I'm conscious to keep my head up—otherwise I can actually feel myself getting more tense as I deliver my speech! So just remember: if you've got a forward head posture there's only one thing for it...change your habits!

4) Cycling/Spinning

It's true that spinning classes are a fantastic way to get fit, but if you don't know how to set up your bike properly, you could be doing more harm than good. Here's how: First, ensure that your seat is at least 5-10 cm above your knee. If it isn't and you're sitting on a stationary bike or indoor spin class, you risk injuring yourself as well as making your workout less effective. Also make sure that you position yourself so that there is no pressure on your tailbone; otherwise, it can push against soft tissues in your pelvic area. And finally, keep in mind that unless you're doing high-intensity intervals or other specialized classes, leaning too far forward can cause long-term neck pain (which is never fun).

5) Too Much Cross Training

The truth is, more isn’t always better. Sure, adding variety to your workout can make it fun, but if you overdo it, you'll end up tired and overworked—and that's never a good look. Too much cross training can also lead to injuries because of overuse and bad form. It might be time to cut back on the personal training sessions or pick up an activity like yoga or pilates that puts less strain on your joints and muscles. If you do decide to keep doing multiple activities, just remember to take a break from them every once in awhile. And don't forget about cardio! Cross training can actually help improve cardiovascular health by improving muscle tone and increasing lung capacity. However, too much cross training will have just the opposite effect. So don't forget about running or biking either! Remember: More doesn't mean better; balance is key!

Twitter Pinterest Quora Tipeee Medium

By