When you are starting out, avoiding setbacks is just as crucial as making progress. Steer clear of these five common pitfalls to stay safe, healthy, and consistent. ​1. Lifting Too Heavy, Too Fast (Ego Lifting) ​The fastest way to get injured is trying to impress people in the gym by lifting weights you can't control. Your muscles, joints, and tendons need time to adapt to new stress. ​The Fix: Focus entirely on mastering your form first. If you cannot perform the movement slowly and with perfect control, the weight is too heavy. ​2. Skipping the Warm-up and Cool-down ​Walking straight from your car to the heavy bench press machine is a recipe for a pulled muscle. ​The Fix: Spend 5 to 10 minutes performing dynamic stretches (like arm circles, bodyweight squats, and leg swings) to get blood flowing to your muscles before you lift. ​3. Copying Advanced Workouts ​It is easy to watch a professional bodybuilder online and try to replicate their 6-day, high-volume routine. Ho...