According to ACA’s 2011 Emerging Issues survey, over 90% of responding camps reported that healthy eating and physical activities were very important issues. While many individuals also think that way, it’s easy to fall behind on best practices when working out. To help keep you on track, here are a few dos and don’ts to keep in mind when you’re exercising.

DO: Warm Up
Whether it’s gymnastics or one of many other healthy activities for adults, you should always do a warm up. It could be a simple stretching routine or a quick cardio circuit, but the fact remains that warming up helps prepare your muscles and prevent injury during a workout.

DON’T: Get Dehydrated
If you remember anything before you leave for the fitness center, remember to pack a bottle of water. A big one. Dehydration is not only harmful to your body during exercise, it’s harmful to your body all the time. You should be drinking at least one liter of water every day.

DO: Start Small
It might seem like a great idea to jump headfirst into a crazy fitness program, but you’ll ultimately be harming your body if you’re not conditioned already. Starting with short, light workouts and building your way up to more intense routines is the best way to go.

DON’T: Lift too Much
If you find yourself straining particularly hard to lift a certain weight set, you should slow down and take the weight down a notch. You should always challenge yourself to do better, but you should also know your limits.

DO: Perform Exercises You Enjoy
If you find a program or routine that you enjoy and that makes you feel good, stick with it! If you have to suffer through a few burpees every now and again that’s fine, but if you don’t like the workouts you’re doing, you should make a change.

Fitness classes might work for some, and personal training might work for others. The point is that there are countless healthy activities for adults, but until you find the right one and complete it the right way, you may not see the results you want. Don’t wait to find an activity you love!