health
and fitness
The Worst Fitness Advice
We`ve Ever Heard
No pain, no gain – not our words, but that of every fitness guru from
Mr Motivator to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. However, it’s not entirely true.
Sure, feeling the burn to some extent can be the sign of a solid workout, but
crippled limbs aren’t the end goal of a circuit. And that’s not the only bit of
misinformation to sound the #fakenews klaxon. Here we correct the worst
fitness advice we’ve ever heard to get your workouts working better.
Fitness Can Promote Spot-Reduction
Spot reduction: sounds like a Clearasil slogan, actually
a so-called method of removing fat from problem
areas. Except, it doesn’t work.
Without liposuction, the body draws fat from different
areas at various rates depending on a genetically-
inherited metabolism. The best solution is a balanced
regime that works all areas – including the lumpy and
not so lumpy bits – with equal vigour.
Swap Protein Meals For Protein Bars
Body-sculpting diets take work, dedication and often
the advice of a nutritionist. Simply replacing protein-
packed meals with protein bars won’t work in the
same way, whatever the packaging says.
Such foodstuffs are often highly processed and thus
require fewer calories to digest, meaning there’s little
benefit in the way of weight management.
Ignore the myths and shortcuts, and aim for a diet
that’s high in protein with plenty of natural ingredients
and vegetables.
Toning Is For Women,
Building Is For Men
Don’t let gender norms affect your gym objectives.
A leaner build is desirable regardless of your sex.
Toning aids overall fitness and helps dial down
mass for those after a sleeker physique –
understandable if overexposure to greased-up
reality TV bods has put you off bulking for a while.
Light Weightlifting Increases
Muscle Definition
Lifting light weights won’t build muscle mass no
matter how much you pump, you’ll just burn calories.
Even if there are small muscles beneath the body
fat, they’re not going to grow.
When looking for noticeable gains, it’s important
to ramp up the weight rather than the repetitions
to cause the muscles to rip and repair larger.
Before long those biceps below will begin to bulge.
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