Exercise Errors

Lifting too much weight. Too much weight will contribute to poor form when lifting and create injury to other areas of the body in addition to the muscle you're targeting. Know your limits. The most effective workout is gradual progressive resistance training.
Jerking while lifting weights. Lifting too much weight can contribute to jerking. The best way to strength train a muscle is by using slow, controlled movement. If you're jerking your weights you're inviting injury, especially to your back muscles.
Exercising too intensely. The days of "no pain, no gain" are gone! If you're looking for effective weight loss, longer periods of moderately intense workouts are most effective. Short periods of high intensity training are fine when integrated into a circuit training workout or when used for athletic training. But for the average fitness enthusiast, too much intensity will only lead to soreness and burnout.
Not exercising intensely enough. If you're looking for results you need to put effort into your fitness program. You don't want to overdo it, but you do want to get your heart elevated into its target training zone.
Not drinking enough water. Contrary to most sports drink advertising, unless you work out for more than two hours per day, water will fill all your fluid needs. Be sure to drink at least 64 ounces of water per day.
Consuming energy bars and sports drinks during moderate workouts. Most fitness professionals agree that unless you're exercising for more than 2 hours a day, energy bars and sports drinks aren't necessary. Unfortunately, high-energy generally means high-calorie when it comes to these products. Sticking to a healthy, well rounded eating plan and drinking plenty of water should meet most exercisers' needs

A Brother Like That

A friend of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin[1] was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it.　　Is this your car, Mister? he said.　　Paul nodded.　　My brother gave it to me for Christmas. The boy was astounded[2].　　You mean your brother gave it to you and it didnt cost you nothing? Boy, I wish . . . He hesitated.　　Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels.　　I wish, the boy went on,　　That I could be a brother like that.　　Paul looked at the boy in astonishment[3], then impulsively he added,　　Would you like to take a ride in my car? Oh yes, Id love that.　　After a short ride, the boy turned with his eyes aglow[4], said,　　Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?　　Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again.　　Will you stop where those two steps are? the boy asked.　　He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled[5] brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him[6] and pointed to the car.　　There she is, Buddy[7], just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didnt cost him a cent. And some day Im gonna give you one just like it . . . then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that Ive been trying to tell you about.　　Paul got out and lifted the lad to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride. 　That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when he said:　　It is more blessed to give[8] . . .