10 Ways to keep your Fitness Goals on Track

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Getting back in shape and keeping fit are the stated goals of millions of people all over the world. You might wonder then, how come so few achieve what they set out to do, and what separates the successful from the rest of the pack. Here are some tips that have been collected from the blogs of some of the world’s foremost trainers;

1) You cannot meet your fitness goals using health pills

Although it is very tempting to do this since it requires very little effort on our part, health pills may have hidden side effects that are not discussed at length in the open.

2) You benefit greatly from longer time in the gym

Conventional wisdom regarding this fact is that it is the intensity and consistency of the workout that matters. Short intervals of exercise requiring greater bursts of energy are more productive than slow trudging at the treadmill or the barbell rack.

3) Cutting down on sleep and remaining active burns more calories

Rather than being more productive, lack of sleep can cause increase of cortisol and adrenaline levels in the body. In the long term this leads to burnout and stress. Adequate sleep in fact helps in weight loss. Meditation and yoga exercises can also aid in tackling daily stress and going through life with a minimum of worry.

4) I should weigh a certain amount according to my height

We have traditionally always been introduced to comparison tables, starting acceptable ranges for weight standards depending on the height we have reached. The only purpose of this chart has been to help in calculating the BMI index for our bodies. Nowadays the fascination with this index has dwindled, so it is best just to use the bathroom scale from time to time.

5) Lifting weights will increase the size of my body

It is true that lifting weights increases muscle mass in time. However this is only possible if one increases the weights one is lifting. On the other hand, to keep in shape it is recommended to lift lighter weights for a longer period of time or do more repetitions. This will help keep the body in better shape.

6) Thin people are healthier

This used to be a popular misconception but is now disproved. Some thin people can be internally in worse shape than their fatter counterparts. Yoyo dieting and having to keep to a certain size and figure has vexed even the best fashion models. Thin people can end up having a lot of internal fat around their organs, not matter how good they look on the outside.

7) Eating less will ensure weight loss

In fact the body’s defense mechanism goes into starvation mode and helps protect the individual, when it begins to realize that the food supply is dwindling.

8) All carbs, proteins and fats are created equal

This is definitely not the case as there are simple and complex carbs which are burned off at different rates by the body. Simple proteins similarly tend to use up energy quickly. A diet rich in fats, meats, grain, soy and dairy and processed foods tend to produce people with unhealthy weight.

9) Eating healthy means we don’t really need to take vitamins

Nothing could be further from the truth. Since the productivity and nutrient value of land produce has declined significantly over the last 100 years or so, we do need to take vitamin supplements from time to time.

10) Putting on weight and experiencing pain is because of genetics

It has been proved by health scientists that it is lifestyle choices and eating habits that play a greater role in marinating, gaining or losing weight. Be careful who you spend time with while undertaking a diet and body transformation. It can spell the difference between failure and success.

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