Whether you're looking at advertisements for supplements, muscle magazines, or the latest and greatest exercise contraption, you're bound to run into some common fitness industry lies. But sometimes the true things that they're not telling you are just as important as the lies they're spinning. Here are 3 fitness facts you most likely won't hear from the fitness industry:
#1 Genetics Are a Factor
A lot of the marketing for fitness supplements and gear is founded on the idea that ANYONE can easily turn into a hulking muscle monster or a trim swimsuit model - if they buy the right stuff. Mentioning genetics in a fitness crowd will usually get you lambasted for "making excuses."
The fact is that genetics do count. Some people are genetically predisposed to muscle building. Some people are predisposed to maintaining fat. Some people are naturally talented runners, while others can learn to lift their body weight with seemingly little effort at all. Some people are physically weak and will constantly struggle to add weight to their bench press.
I'm not saying that everyone is damned to whatever shape they were born in. Acknowledging the genetic factor in fitness is the first step to working past it. Understanding your own strengths and limitations can help you tailor your workout routine to your needs. And knowing that your body is unique means that you can make safe, healthy progress at your own pace.
#2 It Takes Time
From six minute abs to a waist size a week, the fitness industry promises fast results at every turn. With the right moves and the right tools, you can instantly look like whichever Hollywood actor's beach body is on the front covers at the magazine rack.
This breeds unhealthy, unrealistic expectations. Building muscle takes time. Losing fat takes time. In fact, you should expect to lose an average of 2 pounds a week for healthy weight loss, so beware anything to promises much more than that. Some people will lose weight a little faster, and some people will bulk up faster, too. But regardless of your genetics, it still takes time. Barring dangerous hormonal treatments, even a genetically gifted person won't go from out of shape to muscle-bound in a few months.
It's no surprise that this lie gets perpetuated. It can be disheartening to feel like your goals are so far away. Everyone wants to get there faster, but the truth is that you can't. Fitness has to become a part of your life. You have to love your runs and love your lifts. They're not a means to an end but a part of enjoying your life, enjoying your body, and improving yourself every day.
#3 There Is No Secret
"What's your secret?" It's a question that gets thrown around a lot. We all want to know what the local hard body did to get him or herself in such awesome shape. It's a question I've heard and asked many times. Here are a few of the answers I can remember off the top of my head:
"I eat a baked potato every day."
"I lift heavy weights and eat a steak a week."
"I drink two protein shakes every morning."
"I do body weight exercises instead of dumbbells."
"I go all the way down on my bench presses and eat a bowl of pasta after I work out."
Some of these things are good advice. Others are terrible. When I was getting started, I committed them all to memory, hoping that one of them would be the secret formula to a great body. I bought a bunch of potatoes, ate more pasta, and reached for heavier weights. But I made about the same, steady progress that I was making before.
I had a workout buddy named Seth who was in amazing shape. Seth was a short guy with broad shoulders, a slim build, and tons of definition. One day, we were resting and chatting between sets when another guy approached Seth.
"What's your secret?" the guy asked.
Seth thought about it for a second and said, "Well, I always run five minutes on the treadmill before I lift."
The guy thanked him, and I silently committed another ritual to memory.
A few months later, Seth disappeared from the gym for about a week. When he finally came back, I asked him where he'd been.
"I had to go out of town for work," he said, eagerly grabbing a set of dumbbells. "I'm glad to be back. I skipped more workouts than I have in eight years."
"Oh, wow," I said, not even on my second year, myself. It seemed like as good a time as any to dig deeper into his routines. "So are you into the nutrition side of things, too?"
"I love the nutrition side of things."
I waited for a second, hoping he was about to tell me what magical plant or animal he ate regularly. He didn't. That was it. Seth worked out regularly for many years, and he ate right.
That was his secret. It just isn't the one that we want to hear.
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