Ten Practices to Outlaw in the Fitness Industry Part 2

Yesterday I started a list of ten things that should be outlawed in the fitness industry.  There were many reasons behind their proposed banishment, mostly though because of their ineffectiveness, or lack of application in real world scenarios (we are so busy).  Here is the conclusion of that list with five more that should be outlawed.

6. Single Body Part exercises for fat loss-unless you are strengthening an area post injury or have an inefficiency of function in a body part, there is no reason to train single body parts at a time if you are trying to shed body fat.  Full body movements incorporating several muscle groups simultaneously give you more bang for your buck and produces twice the results in half the time.  Step away from the infomercials.

7. Low Fat or Fat Free Foods- some foods are legitimately better if they are low fat or fat free, but the list is VERY small.  Typically these foods that market low fat or fat free options are made from a base ingredient that is a fat.  So if the fat is taken out, something else must be put into its place.  Often that is sugar,salt,sodium, hydrogenated oils, or high fructose corn syrup, or any combination of these ingredients.  Opt for a full fat version of a food and just watch portions.  Fat is not as bad as you think.

8. Over-supplementation- We tend to get real carried away with supplementation.  When trying to lose fat, there are a few things you want to be taking to ensure an optimal environment, and to take if you want to be healthy.  Protein Powder, multivitamin, Fish Oil are three mandatory supplements you want to ensure you are taking on a regular basis.  Other than that, it’s more on a case by case basis.  Most supplements were designed with body builders in mind and if you aren’t looking to become a body builder, you are wasting your money.

9.  Abdominal Machines- They all should be thrown into a pit and lit on fire.  These have no benefit. I haven’t found an abdominal machine yet that helps with stabilization which is the primary role of abdominal muscles.  Exercises like planks, and body weight utilization through free movement will train the abdominal muscles so much better than any machine could.

10. The five minute warm up on the treadmill- The five minute warm up is a joke if you are trying to prepare your body for exercise.  Start with slow movements and movements to strengthen or lengthen difficult areas, or areas of potential injury.  Then progress to higher intensity warm up exercises.  You don’t need to step foot on a treadmill for a warm up, nor should step on any machine for that matter.  To prepare your body for exercise you must use your body to warm up.  Machines assist the body in exercise and that  is not what you want.