Top Fitness Myths That Are Stopping Your Success
Busting the Top Fitness Myths: What You Need to Know for Real Results
Are you struggling to achieve your fitness goals despite putting in hours of effort and sacrificing your favorite foods?
It's time to debunk some of the most common fitness myths that might be hindering your progress!
From restrictive diets to excessive cardio, there are many misconceptions about fitness that can lead to frustration and disappointment.
In this article, we'll explore the top fitness myths that may be stopping your success and provide you with the tools to overcome them.
Let's get started!
Myth #1: 1200 Calorie Diets are the Key to Fat Loss
While it may seem like cutting calories is the way to go, restricting your daily intake to a 1200 calorie target can actually be detrimental to your health and fitness goals.
Here's why:
Our bodies require a certain amount of calories to function properly. This includes basic bodily functions like breathing, digestion, and circulation. By greatly reducing your calorie intake, you're depriving your body of the necessary fuel it needs to perform these functions optimally.
A 1200 calorie diet is often unsustainable and can lead to a cycle of binging and restriction. When we excessively limit our food intake, we're more likely to experience intense cravings and ultimately give in to temptation. This can lead to overeating and weight gain, undoing any progress made.
A 1200 calorie diet can slow down your metabolism, making it harder to burn fat in the long run. When we drastically reduce our calorie intake, our bodies go into "survival mode" and start conserving energy. This means that our metabolism slows down, making it harder to burn calories and lose weight.
So what should you do instead? Focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods that fuel your body and support your fitness goals. This includes lean proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. At the FASTer Way, we provide weekly meal guides that allow you to eat the foods you love AND support your wellness goals!
Myth #2: Excessive Cardio is the Best Way to Burn Fat
When it comes to burning fat and building lean muscle, there are countless myths and misconceptions that can hinder our progress. One of the most common misconceptions is that excessive cardio is the best way to burn fat and tone your body. However, this couldn't be further from the truth.
While cardio can burn a significant number of calories in the short term, it's not as effective as strength training when it comes to long-term fat loss or spot reduction. Strength training builds muscle, which increases your resting metabolic rate (the number of calories you burn at rest). This means that even when you're not working out, your body is still burning calories.
Excessive cardio can lead to a number of negative side effects, such as:
muscle loss, which slows down your metabolism and ultimately makes it harder to burn fat in the long run
increased cortisol levels (the stress hormone), which can cause pain from inflammation and insulin resistance
boredom and burnout that can decrease motivation levels and cause you to give up fitness goals altogether
Instead of spending hours on the treadmill or elliptical machine that can be monotonous and unsustainable, incorporate strength training into your workout routine. This can include weight training, bodyweight exercises, or resistance band workouts.
At the FASTer Way, we provide guided 30-minute workouts that you can save right to your phone from our transformative and all-inclusive app - no more exercising all day and seeing zero results! These workouts offer strength training, resistance training, and so much more that can all be adjusted by intensity so you're able to get your sweat on no matter your current fitness level or equipment set up!
Myth #3: You Should Feel Guilty About Eating "Bad" Foods
If you've ever felt guilty about eating "bad" food while on your fitness journey, it's time to release that for good! The stigma surrounding "bad" foods can actually hinder your progress.
First, it's important to understand that no food is inherently bad. Yes, some foods are less nutrient-dense than others, but that doesn't mean you should feel guilty for enjoying them. In fact, allowing yourself to indulge in moderation can actually help you stick to your fitness goals in the long run - at the FASTer Way we call it our Treat Day and put the extra calories to work through a leg intensive workout!
Depriving yourself of the foods you love can lead to feelings of resentment and ultimately cause you to give up on your fitness journey altogether. So instead of "cheat days" and wallowing in feelings of guilt, find your FOOD FREEDOM through FASTer Way's weekly meal guides and strategic treat days. Time to have your cake and eat it too (literally, because we love cake!).
The FASTer Way to Fat Loss: A Different Approach
Life is all about balance.
By avoiding common mistakes such as extreme calorie restriction, excessive cardio, and food guilt, the FASTer Way focuses on a sustainable and enjoyable approach to your fitness.
Incorporating strength training and weekly meal guides, we offer a personalized and all-inclusive approach to fitness that can help you achieve your goals without sacrificing your mental or physical health.
So, if you're tired of feeling frustrated and stuck in your fitness journey, join the next 6-week round of the FASTer Way for LASTING results without extremes or fads. Don’t let the diet industry fool you any longer!