Every time we log on to social media, we’re flooded with fitness videos, diet recommendations, and trendy tools that all claim to help you lose weight and get fit fast. While they are certainly reliable sources out there, many of these trends are not worth your time. At a minimum, many of them don’t work, and in worst-case scenarios, some of these trends can be downright dangerous. Read on to see 5 fitness trends to avoid and what you should do instead. 

 

Waist Training

If you’re trying to lose weight and shape your body, you might be tempted to try some of the celebrity-endorsed waist trainers you’ve seen online. The people promoting these usually have tiny waists and curves that people crave. But don’t be fooled by the hype! While these corset-like devices claim to “train” your midsection to hold less fat, there is no evidence that they work long-term and permanently damage your organs.

 

Instead, if you’re looking to slim down and tone up your waist, focus on a variety of abdominal exercises, drink plenty of water, and focus on eating healthy, low-fat foods. Take advantage of our Fit Factory Coaches’ expertise, and book a personal training consultation to get started! If you want some support in the meal planning department, reach out to your doctor or to a local nutritionist. 

 

Weight-Loss Pills

The most sustainable way to lose weight and keep it off is to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen. If you have a specific goal weight in mind, it can be overwhelming to think about how long it might take to reach it -  don’t let that make you reach for weight loss pills. Diet pills have been around for decades, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe. While some of them do lead to faster fat loss, they can have serious adverse effects on your health, including heart problems. 

 

Instead of reaching for the quick fix, consider making an appointment with a nutritionist. They can help you create a fat-burning diet that’s right for you and can recommend safe and effective supplements to boost your metabolism and help you achieve long-term results. 

 

Extreme Cardio

Cardio burns calories, so the more cardio you do, the better, right? Wrong! Cardiovascular exercise is an essential part of a healthy fitness regimen, but you can get too much of a good thing in this situation. If you only focus on cardio, your muscles will suffer from it because your body starts to burn them for energy. That lowers your metabolism, making it harder for you to lose fat. 

 

Instead, prioritize high-intensity interval training, commonly known as HIIT. It’s an excellent way to build muscle, burn fat, and get in great cardiovascular shape. HIIT involves alternating periods of intense exercises with periods of rest. Think 30 seconds of cycling as fast as you can with high resistance followed by five minutes of slower pedaling with low resistance, or doing as many squat jumps as you can in 60 seconds, followed by two minutes of rest before another 60 seconds of squat jumps. The best part of HIIT is that your body will continue to burn calories even after you’re done with your workout! 

 

Workout Challenges With Untrained “Pros”

There are thousands of people out there claiming to be fitness professionals that host workout challenges. Although these “pros” promise fast results if you stick to the rules of their challenge, that’s not the case. Anyone can call themselves a health coach online, but if they aren’t trained, you could be signing up for a dangerous challenge. One-size-fits-all programs with no consideration for your personal fitness capabilities, injury history, or health profile don’t work and can wreak havoc on your overall physical and mental health.

 

Instead, find a local fitness center or certified personal trainer to help build a suitable program for you and help you meet your goals safely and effectively. 

 

Extreme Diets

Let’s be honest - most of us have tried a trendy diet in the past. Whether it’s a juice cleanse, the keto diet, or any number of other diets touted as life-changing, the promise of fast weight loss is hard to ignore. But these diets don’t work long-term and can not only be detrimental to your long-term weight loss (hello post-diet weight gain!), but they can also negatively impact your health overall. Your body needs all of the macro and micronutrients available in foods to stay strong and healthy. Like with exercise programs, there is no one-size-fits-all diet, and extreme diets are not sustainable. 

 

Instead, work towards eating a well-balanced diet that incorporates healthy foods to help you lose weight, build muscle, and live a happy, healthy life. 

 

Visit Fit Factory

Ditch the fads and head to Fit Factory if you want to get fit, build muscle, or lose weight. Our certified professionals will help you create safe and healthy habits with long-term results.