Health and Wellness: Myth vs. Reality

Knowing where to start is half the battle and trying to decipher what information is true versus just bogus, can be a full time job. I want to help you have a better understanding on myths versus reality when it comes to health and wellness.

Starting a weight loss journey can be a big commitment. It can also be so confusing. Chances are you typed something into google, like "best ways to lose weight" or "best workouts for beginners" something along those lines to get you a base for where to begin. The more you read, you also probably started noticing so many different views and approaches to the same goal. You then start thinking, what is even true or is this too good to be true. I wanted to start with breaking down some common myths related to health and fitness.

Myth #1 - Carbs are bad.

Reality: Carbs are the body's main fuel of energy. The foods you consume are broken down into glucose before being absorbed into the blood stream. Carbs are given a bad name due to popular "diets" but in reality not all carbs are bad and in fact, are important for a healthy diet.

Fruits and vegetables contain natural sugars and therefore are often counted towards carbs when following certain diets, such as keto. Whole grain is great for dietary fiber and can also help with weight loss. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains all help you feel fuller longer with fewer calories. Making them great additions to a healthy diet.

Don't be afraid of carbs, just choose whole grains and limit added sugars.

Myth #2 - Strength training will make you bulky.

Strength training allows your body to more efficiently burn fat. Muscles are more metabolically efficient than fat mass, allowing you to burn more calories at rest. Strength training is a surefire way to increase your lean muscle mass, which in turn, helps your body burn off more of the fuel you consume from food every day rather than store it as excess energy in the form of fat cells.

You aren't going to get "bulky" from strength training unless that is your goal and you design your workout and meal plan with that in mind.

Myth #3 - You have to spend hours at the gym to stay fit.

Some people prefer being at the gym for two hours while others are there for 30 minutes. It all depends what works for your schedule and also the goals you have set for yourself. Personally, I go to the gym at 5AM and just want to get in, get a good workout, and go home. I am typically only there for about 30-45 minutes, but I am getting the results I want. Some days, when I have more time, I do a longer workout because I like it and it makes me feel good.

Myth #4 - If I focus on all core workouts, I will have abs.

Unfortunately, this one just isn't true. Of course you do want to incorporate core work into your routine, but abs are mainly built in the kitchen. I know, everyone has heard that one before, but that one is so true. Think about how when you eat a certain kind of food, like something salty, chances are you bloat. When you can dial in on your nutrition and consume foods that help build and maintain muscle you are able to allow the muscle definition to show.

Myth #5 - The (fill in the blank) diet is the best for weight loss.

Fad diets are so popular, but there is also a reason they are called fad diets, because they aren't sustainable long term. Sure, chances are someone you know has followed a certain diet for years and just loves it. But have you ever noticed how they don't eat certain things or are almost like obsessive about their "diet?" Many of those diets are designed to be followed to a T in order to get your body into a certain state of fat burning. The best, sustainable weight loss diet is to simply eat what makes you feel good, focus on whole foods as much as possible, and eat that piece of cake at your kids birthday party if you want to.

Do what works best for you.

At the end of the day, your health needs to be a priority and something that you can sustain long term. Trying to decipher all the "tips and tricks" you find online into something that you can actually trust can be difficult. That's why I am here. My weekly blog posts will be breaking down each of these myths and also any other information that you want to know.

Let me know what you want to hear!