It's a little late for a Halloween-themed article. But, that's when I thought it up so I'm just going to run with it.
With my clients I find myself regularly saying that we are using a certain exercise (or series of exercises) to 'trick' the body. The same thing happens when I talk about diet, there's little 'tricks' you can use to confuse your body, make it do what you want it to do. In the fitness industry this is usually to 'lose weight and tone up'.
This is quite easily achievable with a little knowledge of nutrition. That's why there's always so many fad diets about. These companies use one of the tricks and re-brand it to make some quick cash. The problem is, it is unsustainable. They are usually bad for you if you stick with them. You also don't learn anything by using them so you're at the mercy of the next fad diet to achieve your goals.
The problem now isn't that there isn't enough information online. I've spend days reading up on things. The problem is that there is too much information, and too much misinformation.
If you're keen on trying out a new diet then, when reading up on it, just think of the following points:
- Is it healthy? Low carb diets are the main one I'm targeting here. Low carb diets are effective, but they can effect things like mood, energy levels and injuries. Which leads to the next point.
- Is it sustainable? Again, low carb will be my example, it will work perfectly at first, but if used for a long period of time any deviation from the diet and your body will try to replenish its fat stores quickly.
- Is it cost effective? Dieting on a budget is possible, you don't need to buy Weight Watcher meals or anything like that, just be aware of what you're putting into your body.
- Can I do it? A diet has to be suited to you. When looking for the most effective dieting methods for myself, I've tried lots of different ways, I look at the information, see if it complies with what I know to be true about nutrition and design a plan around that for myself, based on my likes, access and budget.
Tricking your body is the quickest way to see results but it's not always sustainable. In this, as in everything fitness, we must find balance. Borrowing from the tricks that we find, mixing it in with a balanced and healthy diet. Making sure we find what works best for ourselves.
The same goes for training. There's an ever increasing number of interval-based classes. Things like insanity, metafit, boxercise, circuits etc. They all borrow from the same school of High Intensity Interval Training (H.I.I.T). There was a time when I would have said that, if you want to lose weight, do 6 HIIT sessions a week and eat low carbs. Now I understand things a little better I'd suggest that was a bad idea.
HIIT tricks your body into thinking it's working harder than it is (even though it's working pretty hard), you get your heart rate right up with high intensity exercises with short rests in between. Metafit claims to work for several hours after you complete it and I believe that completely. It certainly makes you sweat for some time after. For weight loss I'd recommend HIIT sessions twice a week and endurance cardio as well. This way you introduce balance into your training.
Just to conclude, to make quick changes to your body composition, tricking is the way to go. But, you must balance it with a healthier lifestyle. When reading things on the internet or when taking advice off of somebody, just question weather it complies with your understanding of health and fitness.
If you ever require any advice then please get in touch with me. Advice is free. I'd rather everybody achieve their fitness goals safely, and in good health.
www.MattRichPT.com
No comments:
Post a Comment