You can’t go anywhere without hearing about a new breakthrough that will help you lose weight or gain muscle. A new fad diet, fat-burning pill, 5 minute workout or ab machine that will solve all your fitness problems.
There are definitely a lot of entertaining commercials to watch. When it comes to marketing, it’s absolutely genius. The truth is that most of the things you hear or read are nothing but hype.
Never mind the commercials, now the video game market is on line. Ever hear of the Wii Fit? Now you can get fit in front of your tv. Talk about another money grab. Check out the attached link: Wii Fit Parody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYBmAVuBns
Don’t kid yourself. Getting fit takes effort.
Here are some of the top “Fat-Loss” fitness-related myths:
MYTH #1: YOU CAN GET RID OF FAT BY DIET OR EXERCISE.
Yes it is true. You CANNOT get rid of fat cells - other than by surgery.
A portion of your body composition is based on genetics. But wait, don’t start going around blaming your parents. For the majority of the population, the percentage of body fat is related to LIFESTYLE. Once you’re around the age of 16, changes in body fat are due to changes in fat cell size not number. These cells expand (or shrink) to accommodate excess calorie storage.
And here’s the kicker….
You can INCREASE the number of fat cells. Once done, YOU HAVE THEM FOR LIFE – unless you can afford liposuction surgery.
YOU CAN HOWEVER, REDUCE THEM. That is why nutrition and fitness is so important. By incorporating healthy eating habits and exercise into your daily routine, you can reduce the SIZE of your fat cells, but not the number of fat cells within your body.
MYTH #2: IF I DON’T EAT, I WILL LOSE WEIGHT
You can NOT starve fat off your body. Doing so is the best way to gain weight. Fasting actually slows down your metabolism (your body’s rate of calorie burning). You will also lose muscle and energy by not supplying your body with the nutrients it needs. Not eating decreases your fat burning enzymes and increases your fat storing enzymes. Reducing food intake or “dieting” is a common yet highly unsuccessful approach to weight loss.
It is very easy to get caught up in the ‘quick results’ or ‘fast acting’ diet scams around today, but have you ever looked at the small print disclaimer? Such as “Results not typical..”? Remember, it is important to look at the long-term effects of such actions. The best results come from a long-term strategy involving a permanent change in both eating and activity habits.
MYTH #3: YOU CAN SPOT REDUCE FAT FROM SPECIFIC AREAS OF YOUR BODY
You cannot spot reduce fat from a desired body part. Focusing on one type of exercise or body part won’t melt the fat off in that area. If you want to loose fat you need to do weight training with intensity. You must focus on your major muscle groups and multi-functional exercises. This will increase your metabolism and energy levels while burning fat – both during and after your workout.
MYTH #4: YOU HAVE TO COUNT CALORIES FOR WEIGHT LOSS
Losing weight is not rocket science – although many make it out to be. Sure it’s great to count your calories to determine your caloric intake but don’t spend too much time on it.
Simply eat fresh foods that haven’t been processed. Don’t eat anything that comes out of a box, a microvwave or fast food restaurant. Eat smaller more frequent meals. Properly balance your macronutrient rations (Carbs, Proteins and fat) and eat the right carbohydrates and avoid refined sugars. Eat lean protein and drink plenty of water.
MYTH #5: CARDIO IS THE MOST IMPORTANT EXERCISE FOR FAT LOSS
Cardio is NOT the most important exercising for fat loss. Many people that spend endless time “burning calories” on the treadmill or exercise bike are risking the loss of muscle along with any fat loss. Unfortunately the calories you burn in a 30 minute jog may not matter as much as you think. More important is your calorie loss when you’re not exercising.
It’s been proven that Resistance training is much more beneficial for fat loss than cardiovascular training as it elevates your metabolism for 36 hours after a workout.. Weight training not only burns fat but strengthens your heart, your muscles, increases your bone density and improves your posture.
Cardio/aerobic exercise, as with resistance training is still an important part of a balanced exercise program.
One of my favorite sayings is “Use it or Lose it.” The human body was meant to move. There are no magic pills, no short-cuts, no special diets, machines or routines that will result in “getting into shape” Strive for an overall plan to increase your health, fitness, well-being and quality of life. And most importantly – have fun!
