The
title says it all, there’s a whole lot of confusion when it comes to fitness
and nutrition. For instance, is eating after 8 PM bad for you? Is heavier
weights and fewer reps more beneficiary than lighter weights and numerous reps? Fitness experts like to believe these questions are black and white,
but here’s why I think these questions, and many similar, are still up for
debate. After picking up my monthly workout class schedule at the gym I noticed
an intriguing fact or myth section from Fitness Editor of Women’s Health, Jen
Ator, proposing some questions to play devils advocate with. Here’s what I mean…
1. Morning is the best time to work out?
Myth – Late afternoon your muscle strength peaks.
-I
understand the point made it’s definitely accurate BUT morning workouts are beneficiary
as well, as it helps keep your metabolism up so you continue to burn
calories throughout the day. Working out in the morning also keeps you on track
to making smarter eating choices throughout the day, but that’s more of mind
trick than an actual fact or myth statement. Therefore, question number one is
not completely a myth but a mixture of both.
2. You can reduce cellulite through
exercise? Fact – Cellulite is largely determined by genetics so there’s not
much you can do to prevent it, but exercise will help reduce the appearance of
cellulite.
- The main fact in this statement is
that cellulite is genetic. I can see where the idea that exercise tones your
legs so the area that shows the cellulite marks would be less noticeable but to
make people, especially women, who suffer from this problem more than men,
think this is strictly a black and white scenario is like saying you won a
million dollars...IF you had all the correct lottery numbers. Both scenarios squash
hopes and dreams of getting rid of stubborn problems.
3. Stretch before you workout? Myth –
Recent reviews show no evidence that stretching actually prevents injury.
Instead “warm-up” using functional movements that will prepare you for your
workout and mimic the exercise you’re getting ready to perform.
- Personally, I agree with this one but
I also think it’s a case-by-case situation. Say you’re recovering from an
injury, suffering from arthritis, or new to working out, than stretching out
sore or rarely used muscles may be a better idea then leaping straight into
five minutes of jumping rope to warm up. Yet another scenario that may seem
black and white to one fitness expert but is clearly a mixture of fact and myth,
which I now feel the need to call a fath!
What I’m trying to get across from the
fath scenarios is if you are trying to live a healthier lifestyle you need to go by
what your body needs, wants, and can handle. In other words, advice from
editors like Ator is a great starting place but if you can’t workout in the
afternoons know that it doesn’t mean your morning workouts are useless , they
to have their own benefits. However, I will leave you with this last fact or
myth question proposed by Ator - Exercise makes you smarter? Fact! There’s no
fath about this one, which is even more reason to get moving and Just Learn
Balance!
Side note: Race season is quickly
approaching. If you’re looking to get motivated this year in making smarter
eating choices and training like an athlete contact me at JustLearnBalance@gmail.com.
About Just Learn Balance
Just
Learn Balance, JLB for short, is the one-stop-shop for race teams looking to
stand out from the rest. With a desire for living a healthy lifestyle and a
love for racing, founder Jamie Brown combined her two passions to form JLB. The
company focuses on the three C’s: Challenge, Change, and Create. JLB challenges the inner winner
in future and current drivers, and crewmen, by getting their body in athlete
form. JLB changes a client’s perception of food and dieting into a healthy way
of living. Finally, JLB creates marketing material that highlights why our
clients are winners. For questions or comments about JLB, please contact
justlearnbalance@gmail.com
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