From magazines, to books, to even social media, there is an overwhelming amount of tips for how to live your healthiest life, and everyone seems to be an expert on food and fitness. With new nutrition and workout advice creeping up constantly, especially in the month of New Year’s resolutions, it can be difficult to keep track of what works and what doesn’t. The truth is, what people think is “healthy” continuously falls in and out of trendiness, but health is something that is defined differently for everyone. So if you’re looking to change your habits during the new year, these are some “tips” to avoid.
The “No Carbs Past 5” Rule.
If you’re trying to lose weight, this rule can be tossed out immediately. Weight loss is determined by a calorie deficit – basically meaning to lose weight, you need to eat less calories than you burn a day – regardless of what time you eat your carbs. So if you’re like me and can’t live without that late night snack – don’t hold back!
Wear waist trainers to slim down.
As most people know, waist trainers were all the rage in 2016, being heavily endorsed by the Kardashians. This, or course, sparked the inspiration for many women to invest in waist trainers to achieve a slim hourglass figure. However, most of these posts are sponsored by waist trainer brands, and the immense praise they receive from stars may not be the most truthful. What most people aren’t talking about is the damage waist trainers can inflict on the body. Studies show that waist training can seriously damage your organs, spine, and nerves. You’re much better off getting in a good sweat at the gym if you’re looking to shape up.
Do A Juice Cleanse to lose weight.
You know the post-holiday food coma feeling, often described as feeling fluffy. But contrary to the media’s opinion, a juice cleanse is not the most effective way to combat post-holiday fluff. When you’re on a juice cleanse, you may drop pounds fast, but don’t mistake that weight for fat – it’s water. This means that the second you stop your juice cleanse, you’ll gain allllll that weight back. If you’re looking to lose weight in the long run, juice cleanses do not work – they’re a quick fix that really just leaves you cranky, hungry, and super jealous of your friends and fam eating their solid food.
Do “fasted cardio” to lose weight quicker.
This fitness tip is still heavily disputed today, but the conclusion that most come to is that fasted cardio for weight loss doesn’t make that much of a difference. The body works on a larger scale than an hour-to-hour basis, meaning if you’re doing your cardio after you eat, it’s really not a big deal. And once again, weight loss is achieved by a calorie deficit – not by a certain time or day. So if you’re a late night gym goer, or you just can’t function before your breakfast, you have nothing to worry about.
So to conclude this set of unrealistic fitness tips that circulate throughout the internet, just remember that health is something different to everyone. If you are miserable on a juice cleanse, don’t do one. If you love eating carbs (seriously, who doesn’t) then don’t restrict them after 5 PM. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to be healthy – it’s whatever feels right to YOU.
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