Do's and Don'ts at the Gym

Do: Breathe. Exhale with exertion (for example, while you’re coming up into a sit-up like Joe Candio of Macungie, Pa., is doing here). Holding your breath can raise your heart rate and blood pressure.

Congratulations! You’ve made a plan to work out regularly at the gym. Get the most out of your program by eating a couple of hours beforehand so you’re fueled with energy-producing carbohydrates. Also, drink a glass or two of water and bring a water bottle with you to prevent dehydration. But don’t just wing things when you get to the gym. “Meet with a fitness specialist who’ll assess your physical condition and help you set realistic goals,” says exercise physiologist Diana Wentling of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.

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