I've decided to make this blog a monthly thing. That way I would be able to add to my list of pet peeves more easily.
In the past month I've discovered a common misconception amongst many people - they seem to think that when you exercise, that's all that you require in order to stay fit. That's like saying "If you pray that you lose weight, your faith's all you need". No, it simply doesn't work that way.
Why? Your body needs a proper diet and workout plan for you to lose or gain weight. Your diet is what is going to provide you with the energy and nutrients you need in order to lose or gain weight. What you eat and the quality of your food is what matters more. I have come across numerous people who claim that they've eaten so much but they cannot lift weights at gym. This is because the quality of their food is poor and they have no clue about how to manipulate their bodies so that they could achieve their goals.
Where workouts are concerned, they tend to stick to workouts that their trainers have made for them. Silly of them. In case you're wondering why you're not progressing where gym's concerned, here's why- your trainer doesn't really care about your progress, nor about your body. The only thing he/she wants is money and so long as you work with him and pay the gym, that adds to whatever credentials they have. I have seen numerous people who could have progressed greatly in the past 5 years (since i began working out). They're told that they are gaining muscle mass but the only thing that they're actually gaining are inches on their waists. Trainers often do not even know how to determine whether or not their clients are gaining muscle or fat.
A trainer at my gym told me I was becoming too thin. I didn't realize he had the ability to look at my body through the clothes I was wearing. The only thought that came to mind was "how would you know?". See, that's the issue with trainers here: they just look at the clothes you wear but they're blissfully unaware of what your body actually looks like.
They tend to think that just because someone's wearing skinny jeans or clothes that LOOK good, the person before them is fit or perfectly fine. They do not understand the whole point of ill-fitted clothes is to hide the piles of flab and fat under a person's clothes. Forget that, they don't even know that there's any such thing as ill-fitted clothes!
Oh yes, speaking about clothes- many women and men actually starve themselves so that they can fit into their favorite clothes for "that wedding" that they're waiting for so eagerly. Sure, that would help temporarily- and then, the weight would come back ten times faster and a hundred times worse.
My advice would be to simply join a gym, get your diet in order yourself or with the help of a nutritionist or someone who knows his stuff and see how things go then!
The point of the post is not to trash anyone but simply to state that the only person who can get you to your goals is you.
In the past month I've discovered a common misconception amongst many people - they seem to think that when you exercise, that's all that you require in order to stay fit. That's like saying "If you pray that you lose weight, your faith's all you need". No, it simply doesn't work that way.
Why? Your body needs a proper diet and workout plan for you to lose or gain weight. Your diet is what is going to provide you with the energy and nutrients you need in order to lose or gain weight. What you eat and the quality of your food is what matters more. I have come across numerous people who claim that they've eaten so much but they cannot lift weights at gym. This is because the quality of their food is poor and they have no clue about how to manipulate their bodies so that they could achieve their goals.
Where workouts are concerned, they tend to stick to workouts that their trainers have made for them. Silly of them. In case you're wondering why you're not progressing where gym's concerned, here's why- your trainer doesn't really care about your progress, nor about your body. The only thing he/she wants is money and so long as you work with him and pay the gym, that adds to whatever credentials they have. I have seen numerous people who could have progressed greatly in the past 5 years (since i began working out). They're told that they are gaining muscle mass but the only thing that they're actually gaining are inches on their waists. Trainers often do not even know how to determine whether or not their clients are gaining muscle or fat.
A trainer at my gym told me I was becoming too thin. I didn't realize he had the ability to look at my body through the clothes I was wearing. The only thought that came to mind was "how would you know?". See, that's the issue with trainers here: they just look at the clothes you wear but they're blissfully unaware of what your body actually looks like.
They tend to think that just because someone's wearing skinny jeans or clothes that LOOK good, the person before them is fit or perfectly fine. They do not understand the whole point of ill-fitted clothes is to hide the piles of flab and fat under a person's clothes. Forget that, they don't even know that there's any such thing as ill-fitted clothes!
Oh yes, speaking about clothes- many women and men actually starve themselves so that they can fit into their favorite clothes for "that wedding" that they're waiting for so eagerly. Sure, that would help temporarily- and then, the weight would come back ten times faster and a hundred times worse.
My advice would be to simply join a gym, get your diet in order yourself or with the help of a nutritionist or someone who knows his stuff and see how things go then!
The point of the post is not to trash anyone but simply to state that the only person who can get you to your goals is you.
That's very true. I visited Pakistan recently and everyone was like I look great and thin. I knew that's not true as I haven't hit the gym for over a year. I am in bad shape.
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog through your Facebook page HMR Health Services. Are you a full-time professional trainer? Your blog profile page says you are a law student. Is this a hobby?
I'm not a professional trainer nor am I law student (anymore). Most of what I know is what I've learned via experimentation (on myself)and the rest I learned via books and the internet.
DeleteSo why write this blog if you don't mind me asking? any suggestions of books/sites?
DeleteThe purpose of the blog is basically to tell people about the importance of not going for what all "professionals" and so-called "fitness gurus" tell them to believe in. How our bodies function is known only to us. Experiment but do it in a healthy manner, take others' opinions into account but don't believe in what they say without thinking and go through all sorts of material and come to a conclusion because fitness really is about trial and error. I'd know :)
DeleteAs for book suggestions- Protein Power and Atkins are good books that may help you get an idea about high-pro diets but don't rely on them too much. I just read so that I could get an idea and then, customize what they mention in there.
Websites- bodybuilding.com
Thanks! Can I ask another question. So I haven't hit the gym for 1-2 yrs. I'm in *bad* shape. I have started some basic exercises- push ups, pull ups and some light weights. but I'm not sure what the best way to start is. Is it better
ReplyDelete1) to start cardio and burn out the fat and then start strength exercises/weights
2) or should I do both together
You should do 2) both together. If you like I can make you a diet chart and a workout plan though I charge. We can arrange a meeting of sorts- perhaps skype/facebook or gmail and discuss this further.
DeleteThanks, can I check how much you charge?
ReplyDeleteYeah sure, contact me on hmraja89@gmail.com and we'll discuss this there further. See you there.
ReplyDelete