When it comes to weight loss, there are supposedly one-thousand different ways to do it. But how does one figure out what is actually true? How do you know if you’re maximizing your time or focusing on the right elements? Read on to learn about the unexpected habits that could be keeping you from reaching your fitness goals.
1. You are blindly following Instagram stars and bloggers. According to a study performed by the University of Glasgow, 90 percent of social media influencers (with 80k-plus followers) have been relaying false information to their fan bases. The findings on transparency, evidence-backed posts, bias and nutritional guidance were presented at the European Congress on Obesity, revealing that only one blogger in the study disseminated correct information. Meanwhile, others failed to be in line with the science behind weight loss and nutrition. Does everyone want to look like an Instagram model? Maybe. But do those models know how to guide people on their journey? Most likely not. Always err on the side of caution when following and comparing to social media influencers.
2. Your body is missing protein. This one is a big deal. Without protein, your body is unable to repair itself. When we think of working out, we imagine building muscle. In reality, we tear down our muscle tissue when we move around, with the recovery and building coming from proper nutrition. In addition to repairing those torn fibers, protein helps your body release hormones to reduce body fat! How cool is that? It’s like double dipping—the more protein you take in, the better off you are on your weight loss journey. In addition, protein will help your body feel full, boost immune function and metabolism and give your body helpful vitamins and minerals such as B6, B12, iron and zinc.
3. You are only focusing on cardio. The honest truth is that cardio is not the best thing for weight loss. These types of workouts might help you lose weight initially, but you will also lose muscle mass. Guess what that does? It increases your body fat percentage. In order for your body to significantly change to a healthier body composition, it needs resistance training. A mixture of heavy strength training and cardiovascular work is the best way to build your muscle mass so that your body can boost its metabolism. If you really want the best of both worlds, circuit and interval training is the best bang for your buck for fat loss.
4. You are either missing consistency or variety. Two of the most important factors with weight loss are consistency with your nutrition and variety of workout programming. With consistency, your body will change over time from repeated stimulus promoting healthy body composition changes. Staying on track with your food intake—eating enough calories, protein, carbs, fats, etc.—is a huge factor for losing body fat. Don’t stop at nutrition consistency, though! Working out four to five times per week is just the right amount of time for your body to see some physical changes over the long haul as well. With variety, your body will continue having to ‘guess’ what you’re throwing at it. This tactic works great because your body responds to new/different things through change. Think about switching up your workouts with different combinations of exercises, sets, repetitions, etc.
If you are stuck in a rut at this point in the year, you can still seek guidance. There are some great professionals in the area that care about shaping a healthier Lehigh Valley. When searching for a professional to help you out, do your homework and make sure they are holding nationally accredited certifications or a four-year degree in the related fields of exercise science or nutrition. In doing this quick research, you can avoid ‘quick weight loss’ schemes. Get the truth behind a successful weight loss journey and let’s get through that plateau together.
Forward Thinking Fitness | 6750 Iroquois Trl. Suite 12, Allentown | trainftf.com
This post is a sponsored collaboration between Forward Thinking Fitness and Lehigh Valley Style.
