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A Merry Life

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The Things You’re Doing Wrong When Trying to Get in Shape

December 10, 2013 by Mary

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for details.

Hey everyone! I’m busy with life stuff right now so I’m opening up the blog to more guest posts. Hopefully you’ll enjoy them! Today’s guest post is from Laura, a blogger who is a 21 year old graduate with a passion for journalism, music and fitness. Enjoy her post!

Things You’re Doing Wrong When Trying to Get in Shape

get in shape

As we approach Christmas, and more importantly the New Year, millions of us will be looking to cut out the rubbish foods, stick to a healthy diet and get fit. This is easier said than done however, not only because of all the amazing cuisines and dishes Christmas throws our way, but it’s also down to the wrong advice we receive or read up on. One of the most important things to understand when trying to get in shape is that everyone’s body is different, and someone else’s fitness plan won’t necessarily work for you. To help you achieve your weight loss goals, here are some other areas where you could be going wrong in the gym.

Being Thin Means I’m Fit and Healthy

This is by far one of the biggest myths of getting fit, and just because you’re naturally thin it doesn’t mean you’re naturally fit! It works the other way around too; just because you’re bigger than most people, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re fat or unfit. When determining a person’s physical fitness, their height as well as their weight has to be considered. Lean people can have unhealthy levels of fat, but because it doesn’t accumulate around the stomach, they’re considered as thin – but in fact, that fat is accumulating around their organs.

I Don’t Need To Do Weights

Yes, you do! Studies have shown that weight training can burn twice the amount of calories than you’re typical run at the gym, and if you combine 40 minutes of weights with 20 minutes of running, your weight loss will further increase.

The weights you encompass in your exercise routine should reflect your body goals, for example if you’re looking to reduce the fat around your arms, the majority of your weight exercises should be arm-orientated, and supplemented with cardio. If you’re looking to build muscle however, you’re going to need some protein, so be sure to check out whey protein powder from lamuscle.com for the best online deals!

I Exercise, So I Can Eat What I Want

A balanced diet must consist of exercise and the consumption of the right foods, not just the foods you like! In actual fact, the best way to lose weight is actually cutting down the amount of calories you eat, and not simply burning them away in the gym after a heavy lunch. For example, if you eat 1,000 calories a day, and burn 1,000 calories a day, you’re not losing weight, you’re simply breaking even! To be successful in losing weight, you have to burn more than you’re consuming.

Slow Running is Great For Losing Weight

No, it’s not! It’s quite the opposite in fact – high intensity cardio for low periods burns weight at a faster rate than running for a long time at a slower pace. After a high intensity workout for a short period, your body will actually carry on burning calories even after you cool down, and over time this can also increase your metabolism!

Filed Under: Thoughts


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Comments

  1. Dukebdc says

    December 10, 2013 at 5:49 pm

    “for example if you’re looking to reduce the fat around your arms, the majority of your weight exercises should be arm-orientated,”

    Isn’t spot reducing another myth? Increasing muscle tone and size will make your arm appear firmer, but fat loss cannot be targeted to a specific body part.

  2. Rach says

    December 11, 2013 at 1:23 am

    “To be successful in losing weight, you have to burn more than you’re consuming.”

    This is the best quote of weight loss I always try to promote. It’s simple, but everyone wants to complicate it. I wish everyone really understood this.

  3. Jewlz says

    December 11, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    The more I’ve thought about this post, the more I disagree with it. As a previous commenter said about “for example if you’re looking to reduce the fat around your arms, the majority of your weight exercises should be arm-orientated, and supplemented with cardio” is simply not true. There is NO spot reduction. Now, if you have FLABBY arms and want to add muscle, then yes you will need to hit the arms exercises. But you will NOT get rid of FAT that way. Fat loss can only be achieved through over all weight reduction. That should be clarified.

    Next is “Slow running is great for losing weight. No, it’s not!” Another incorrect statement. Truth is, doesn’t matter if you exercise or not. Weight loss is about calorie reduction and CAN be done completely through diet. You can’t out exercise a poor diet is true and if you are over-eating, you are over eating. BUT, if you are exercising for the purpose of getting more fit, slow running or walking has be proven time and again to be just as good for you as any other exercise. Sure, you can RUN and burn more cals, but what good is that if you hate it or get injured? It isn’t. But if you love walking and can fit that into your every day life, it is a perfectly good way to get exercise and burn some extra cals that to lose weight ALONG WITH a reduction in food cals.

    That’s just a couple. A few other times she mentions ‘lean’ people and etc. when she really means ‘skinny’. HUGE difference between being ‘lean’ and ‘skinny’. And then I hate the plug for protein powder. Protein powder is great and I’ve tried a couple, but it drives me bonkers when bloggers promote something like that without further details as to WHY to use protein powder, the different types, and then subs. It was just a link to one VERY HIGH PRICED protein powder when truth is, you can get just as much protein from a 1c. serving of real Greek yogurt!

    Sorry to be a downer, but anymore, stuff like this drives me nuts.

    • Mary says

      December 11, 2013 at 2:11 pm

      Hey Jewlz! You can definitely disagree. I actually disagreed with a few things as well. Sometimes that happens with guest posting which is why I don’t have them that often. Thank you for sharing your comments and debating the points.

      As far as the protein powder, I allowed the link because I do use protein powder sometimes and enjoy it. Of course no one has to buy it. I personally buy mine off Amazon for a much lower price, but not everyone is like me. ;)

      • Jewlz says

        December 11, 2013 at 6:02 pm

        See, this is why I like you! You just seem so normal and seem to have such common sense! I get my protein powder at Costco now… I use to get it from Amazon, too! :D

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