Fitness Advice You Should Completely Ignore
By Genevieve Cunningham
When it comes to getting in shape, the advice floating around is abundant. There are diet methods, workouts, tricks of the trade … and all of these can be found at the simple click of a button. But just because you’ve found some advice, that doesn’t mean that it’s reliable. To keep you on a good fitness plan, take a look at these pieces of advice that are not worth your time and you should probably ignore.
Pain Means Progress
While pain can be a part of a workout program, it’s not always a good thing. Sometimes, pain comes about when we’ve pushed our muscles to new levels, and now we feel the soreness. This can be be good! But other times, pain may signal that we’re pushing too far. It may show that we need to ease up or work on form. The important thing to remember about pain is that it should be monitored. If you feel pain, mention it to a health care or fitness professional, and follow their advice to keep your body safe.
Heavy Weights Make Women Big
How many times have you heard this one? Women are given this terrible advice over and over again. They’re taught to believe that lifting heavy will give you rippling muscles and make you look like a bodybuilder. Reality check: It won’t! A woman would have to do some serious training to bulk up in that manner. Women simply don’t have the hormones necessary for that kind of development without some outside influence. So what will happen with heavy weights? You’ll probably lose some weight and develop some muscle definition to be proud of.
Cardio is the Way to Lose Weight
OK, this one is partially true. Cardio can absolutely help you lose weight. But it probably won’t be enough all on its own. More and more people are discovering that the best way to lose weight is to develop muscles. As the muscles develop, it kicks your metabolism into overdrive, and as a result, you’ll probably find yourself losing more weight. Most fitness professionals now recommend a healthy weight training routine along with moderate cardio sessions in order to burn the most fat and get in the best shape.
Getting in shape is hard enough without terrible advice derailing your progress. Just because you find it on the internet doesn’t mean it’s true. Do your own research and find what works best for you. The good advice will lead to progress, whereas the bad advice will leave you stuck in a rut. Ask for help, stick with it, and you’ll see the results you’ve been after before you know it.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.