5 Health & Fitness Myths:

As health and fitness trends have become more mainstream it can be overwhelming trying to figure out just what advice may be the best to follow. Learning healthy habits from a professional nutrition and fitness coach ensures the best success in long-term health and wellbeing. There are a lot of health and fitness myths doing the rounds out there. In this blog, I’ll try to  provide some clarity by debunking the most common fitness myths and explaining the truth behind them. Enjoy!

Myth 1: To lose weight, you have to cut out carbs and fats:

Carbs have unnecessarily been given a bad rep in recent years. For many, the idea is to cut out all carbs such as bread, pasta, and rice in order to lose weight. However, this isn’t wise nor true. Even if you do experience quick weight loss by cutting carbs, it’s most likely water weight.

Eating little to no carbs can actually hinder your weight loss progress since very low-carb diets can cause poor energy, low mood, an insatiable appetite, and poor gut function. The same goes for fats. While it’s wise to limit processed fats such as butter, healthy fats such as avocado provides an important component of our diet. Fats, especially essential fats, are a necessary part of our diets. Instead of fearing fats, just like carbs, take a balanced approach. As with everything in life, moderation and balance are key. Eliminating foods or grouping them into good vs bad food is not conducive to a successful sustainable diet plan.

Myth 2: More physical activity is better:

While it may seem that the fastest most effective way of losing weight is by exercising frequently, too much exercise can work against you. Fitness training should be accompanied by healthy food choices and again, performed in moderation. When it comes to training, quality really is more important than quantity. Throwing yourself into gruelling gym workouts everyday is not the best approach. Walking and strength training are two of the best things we can do for our physical and mental health. Talk to a qualified trainer and create an exercise plan that suits your body.

Myth 3: Spot reduction:

This is the idea that you can burn fat off a specific part of your body, such as your stomach by doing exercises for that region. You've probably heard this narrative from some fitness influencers claiming that if you do enough crunches, you'll get six pack abs. When in reality, it's impossible to solely target an area of your body, the only way to reduce fat in any part of your body is to eat in a calorie deficit and move your body.

Myth 4: No pain, no gain:

The phrase "no pain, no gain" is commonly heard in the fitness world. While it is good to challenge yourself occasionally, doing it too often can set you up for injury and set back your performance abilities. In fact, repeatedly going too hard can cause overtraining, which inhibits your muscles ability to recover, affects your mood, your immune system and more. Furthermore, it can affect your sleep because too much exercise can overstimulate the nervous system.

Your progress isn’t measured by how much you sweat or how much it hurts after working out. In fact, if you’re experiencing pain (as opposed to soreness or discomfort), there’s a high chance that you’re doing it wrong.

Myth 5: Lifting weights will make you bulky.

Many people, especially women, avoid weight training because they think it will make them bulky. However, in reality, lifting weights and maintaining a healthy diet can help you loose excess body fat. This is because as you build muscle, your body naturally burns more calories, even at rest. Strength training also keeps us stronger as we age, maintains our bone and joint health, boosts our mood and keeps our heart healthy. So remember don’t be afraid to lift some weights.

So there you have it, five myths busted, I hope you’ve enjoyed this little blog and its helped in some way.

As always if you’ve any questions please let me know.

Liv.

*The information contained in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.