5 Things to stick your middle finger to while chasing your weight loss goals this year
The new year is coming and many of you are gearing up to tackle your New Year resolution fitness goals. While some fitness enthusiast roll their eyes at this, I support anyone who decides to get their health in order and make a positive change whenever they are motivated to do so. If it motivates you to be healthy, I love it! No judgment!
With all that being said there are several things that resurface in the fitness space year after year that absolutely make my blood boil, for no other reason than, they don't work at all! Every January these things come around, sometimes with new names, packaging, and slogans, but consistently the same results, wasted time, money, and energy.
Once and for all I’m going to break all 5 of these things down and hopefully convince you to get rid of them for good (wishful thinking I know). Disclaimer: I have friends in fitness who endorse some of these things. I’m not here to “knock anyone’s hustle” but on my platform, I will always point to the science. I Invite anyone, friend, foe, or stranger, to discuss anything I talk about in this article.
EFF the Fad diets
Keto. Paleo, No Carb, Hollywood, Atkins, South Beach, trash. All of them. Anyone who’s sat down to do a weight loss consultation with me has heard me use the word sustainable. Whatever we agree on as a strategy, will have to be something that is realistic for you to do for the foreseeable future. Removing all carbs from your diet may cause you to lose weight drastically, (fat and muscle) but unless you plan on cutting carbs out for life, you are almost certain to regain this weight. Before you start to contemplate the crazy idea of completely eliminating your carbs, remember that your body’s preferred energy source is carbohydrates. Focus more on when you eat carbs, what kind of carbs you take in, and of course, use some sort of portion control.
EFF the Miracle Supplements
Typically when starting our New Year weight loss journey we tend to fill our pantry with so-called “magical supplements” that are supposed to accelerate the process. For the most part, this is simply just a waste of money. Mapping out a well-balanced nutrition plan will be not only more efficient for your goals, but for your wallet as well. Once you have a solid training and nutrition plan you can find places to SUPPLEMENT the holes in your routine. Even in doing this, realize that you don’t need to break the bank on sophisticated or miracle-making products. Green Tea is just as effective as any well branded ‘Tummy Tea”. A cup of black coffee will have the same effect as most fat burners. Green veggies and fruit will always be superior to a bottle of pills marked “superfood”. In a previous article, I wrote about a few supplements that I’ve found to be helpful.
EFF Wrapping Yourself in $h!T
There's nothing, I repeat nothing you can wrap yourself in that will lead to effective and sustainable weight loss. There is absolutely nothing you can wrap yourself in that leads to fat loss. “Waist Training” is a myth, and any product that promises to make you lose fat in a particular area of the body will not deliver. Sauna suits are only ideal for fighters or others who need to weigh in for the competition. For anyone else, you’re simply just dehydrating yourself. My stance on this will be controversial, but I will gladly entertain any science that proves I’m wrong here. Waist trainers may have other purposes, but wearing one will not accelerate, or enhance your weight loss goals.
Chill on the EFFing Cardio
Cardiovascular exercise is important for overall health and can be helpful for weight and fat loss. However, too much cardio will hinder the process. Long periods of low-intensity cardio prevent the body from developing the lean muscle tissue it needs to sustain fat loss. For men, it can also lower testosterone. Instead of running for 3 miles, try wind sprints, or walking at an incline for 10 minutes. Everyone’s body has a different sweet spot, so pay attention and see what works best for you.
Take an EFFing Day Off. Overtraining is Real!
At some point a few years back, fitness influencers made it a point to push the idea that there is no such thing as overtraining. This isn’t just wrong, but dangerous and grossly irresponsible. Pushing to the max 7 days a week is more likely to accelerate burnout, not fat loss. Overtraining often leads to injuries that keep you out of the gym. It’s also important to remember that you benefit from the hard work you've done in the gym while you are resting, that's when change takes place.
The most important thing to remember is that consistency will ultimately get you the results you desire, Grabbing for shortcuts typically turns into setbacks. This year let’s push aside the gimmicks and stay the course! I promise you it will pay off!
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