EXERCISE MISTAKES

This week: your weights are too heavy

LIFTING weights builds muscle and raises metabolism, but a common mistake made is ‘not working through the full range of motion,’ says Adam Bishop, strength and conditioning coach at Harlequins rugby club and a former competitor in the World’s Strongest Man. A bicep curl, for example, should start with the weight by your side. Lift until it is at shoulder height — don’t stop halfway. ‘Often people don’t complete the full move because they lift a weight that’s too heavy,’ says Adam Bishop. ‘You’ll get better results if you use lighter weights and do more repetitions. Aim to complete 15 reps perfectly.’