Regular people have an innate love of magic. From a young age, we're entranced by the possibilities of things that can't be explained.
We want to believe in the impossible because it makes life more fun and exciting. And there's no place where this is more apparent than in the fitness industry.
Every day, new miracle products and diets promise to help us achieve our perfect bodies with little effort on our part. But as anyone who's ever tried them knows, these promises are nothing but a load of money-sucking lies.
In this article, we'll review the two common ways ‘fitness wizards' fool people and then we'll tell you what to focus on instead.
Stay tuned!
Fad supplements
There is no such thing as a miracle pill or potion, yet the fitness industry is full of fad supplements that promise easy solutions.
From powders that claim to help you build muscle faster to pills that claim to help you lose weight, these products often make grandiose promises that they can't possibly live up to.
Even worse, they can often be dangerous, causing serious side effects or interacting negatively with other medications.
The bottom line is that there is no substitute for good habits when it comes to achieving your fitness goals.
Even more so, if we were to create a “fitness pyramid,” where the most important things are at the bottom, well, supplements would be at the top, where the least important factors sit.
And so, next time you want to purchase a supplement, ask yourself if your habits are on point, first!
Fad diets
It seems like every year, there's a new fad diet that promises instant results.
Keto, carnivore, paleo, vegan, you name it – the proponents of all those diets claim they are superior to other types of nutrition approaches.
There is, however, no actual evidence that supports these claims!
So why do people keep falling for them? Maybe it's because we're always looking for a quick fix, and fad diets seem to offer just that.
Or maybe we're just suckers for a good marketing campaign.
Either way, it's important to remember that there's no such thing as a miracle weight-loss cure.
If you're looking to make lasting changes, you're better off making small, sustainable changes to your diet and lifestyle.
What actually works
As we just learned, when it comes to health and fitness, there's no shortage of miracle claims and quick fixes.
Just Google “diet” or “fitness,” and you'll be bombarded with ads for fad diets, trendy workout programs, and supplements that promise amazing results with little effort.
But the truth is, there's no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to health and fitness.
Lasting results can only be achieved by establishing sustainable habits.
Sure, you might be able to lose a few pounds quickly by cutting out carbs or going on a “juice cleanse,” but those results are unlikely to last.
Instead of looking for the next quick fix, focus on making small changes that you can stick with for the long haul.
Here's what you should focus on!
Training methods
Anyone who's scrolled through Instagram knows that trendy workout videos are everywhere.
There are celebrities hawking their latest fitness fads, influencers showing off their toned bodies, and amateurs sharing DIY home workouts.
With so many options available, it can be tempting to try out the latest celebrity workout or follow a trendy fitness program.
However, these approaches are often ineffective and can even be harmful.
Celebrity workouts are often designed more for show than for results, and they can be fraught with dangerous exercises that no beginner can do safely.
Likewise, trendy fitness programs often lack scientific evidence to support their claims of effectiveness
If your goal is to train effectively, it's best to stick to tried-and-true training principles and realize them through safe and effective training methods.
So close your Instagram feed and open the books of training theory, written by experts in the field!
Nutrition principles
The internet has a lot of information on diets and recipes. And just like with training, it's easy to get caught up in trendy diets and recipes that you see on the internet.
They often involve cutting out entire food groups or eating strange combinations of foods that are supposed to promote weight loss.
However, as you learned, these fad diets are not the way to go if you want to eat effectively.
Instead, you should stick to the basics of good nutrition.
That means eating a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
It also means limiting less nutritious, processed foods.
By following these basic principles of good nutrition, you can make sure that you're getting the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy and function properly… Without believing in Santa Claus!
Recovery principles
Why do we never hear about recovery when people talk about achieving their fitness goals?
Everyone always talks about how important it is to stick to a workout routine and eat healthily, but no one ever says anything about recovery.
Is it because it's not as glamorous and you can't effectively put it into a flashy Instagram video?
Or is it because people think that they don't need to focus on recovery if they're not professional athletes?
Whatever the reason, recovery is an essential part of any fitness journey, and it's something that everyone should be paying attention to.
Without proper recovery, our bodies can't repair the damage that we do to them during exercise, and over time this can lead to injury.
So, next time you're thinking about your fitness goals, make sure to include a plan for recovery.
Besides the biggest factor (food), you should focus on hydration, sleep, and stress management.
Throw in some deep-tissue massage sessions a couple of times a month, and you will make your body truly happy and well-recovered!
The king of all - consistency
Anyone who's tried to get in shape will tell you that there's no magic bullet.
Sure, you can find all sorts of tips and tricks online or from your friends, but at the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is consistency with the above-mentioned things.
A good training, nutrition, and recovery plan is nothing without consistency. You might be able to get away with skipping a few workouts, but eventually, it will catch up to you.
With that being said, if you're looking to get in shape, don't waste your time with the fad diets and quick fixes we discussed in this article.
Just stay consistent with your new habits and lifestyle, and make them sustainable!
And as always, if you need help on your fitness journey, don’t hesitate to contact us!
We’re here for you!
