There’s no shortage of fitness tips out there. Don’t believe me? Just scroll through social media. It’s common for well-meaning people to innocently spread misinformation when it comes to fitness. While it may seem harmless, buying in to false fitness tips can lead to physical burnout or even injury. So, how do we avoid falling for fitness myths?
We’re debunking three of the most popular fitness myths to keep you focused and well-informed as you work towards your fitness goals.
1. “No pain, no gain”
When it comes to fitness, ever hear the phrase “no pain, no gain”? This phrase is commonly used to push an athlete harder during their workout. Don’t get us wrong, challenging yourself occasionally is a great thing! But, doing it too often can lead to potential soft-tissue injuries and even set you back when it comes to making progress towards your fitness goals. In fact, training too hard can make it more difficult for your muscles to recover properly. It can also effect your mood, your sleep cycle, and even hinder your immune system. The best approach is to slowly increase the intensity of your training, rather than over-doing it all at once.
2. “Fasting before your workout helps you loose weight faster”
The idea of doing fasted cardio, or exercising on an empty stomach, is that you’ll burn more fat because your body is using stored fat as energy instead of glucose.
While you may initially burn more calories by doing fasted cardio, at the end of the day, it doesn’t make a huge difference. This is because weight loss really comes down to your total daily caloric intake. If your goal is to lose weight, being in a caloric deficit is far more important than whether you exercise fasted or not. In fact, research has shown that there is no significant difference in weight loss between those who fasted before their cardio workout and those who did not.
The best bet is to listen to your body. If you discover you feel better when you exercise on an empty stomach and are in good health, there’s nothing wrong with doing fasted cardio. However, you may find that fueling up before some types of training, like strength training, is a better option to prevent you from experiencing fatigue during your workout. Always check with your primary care physician first, especially if you’re pregnant, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other underlying medical issues.
3.” If you’re sore, then you had a good workout”
A common misconception is that being sore after a workout means you had a good training session. Typically, when we experience muscle soreness, it’s because we’ve tried a new exercise or pushed ourselves harder than normal during a workout. This type of soreness is called delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS. DOMS leaves our muscles inflamed, tender, and tight. This discomfort typically lasts 24 to 48 hours after your workout. While DOMS can generally resolve on its own, using a foam roller can aid in faster recovery.
So, what’s the best way to gauge if you had a good workout? Experts agree that evaluating your performance during your workout sessions is a much better indicator. So, if you’re able to lift more or do more reps during your next workout session, you’re on the right track. Even better, as you adapt to a workout routine, the soreness you experience will lessen which will keep you on track with your training and progress.
Ready to bust the fitness myths and start training smarter? At Invictus, we help you do just that! And it’s easy to GET STARTED.
Parents, we’ve all been there. Despite our best efforts to encourage healthy eating, we still struggle to ensure our kids are getting enough vegetables in their diet. Most parents understand the importance of providing a wide variety of vegetables for their kids to enjoy; however, getting them to actually eat those vegetables is typically easier said than done.
According to the CDC, 90% of children (ages 2-18 years) aren’t eating enough vegetables. In fact, only 2% of teens are getting their recommended servings of daily veggies.
So, what’s a parent to do? When it feels like you’ve tried everything and the temptation to give up is stronger than the desire to stick it out, give these mealtime hacks a try instead:
Lead By Example
That’s right. As parents, we can’t just talk the talk, we have to walk the walk, too. We can offer our kids nutritious meals and encourage them to eat more veggies all we want, but if our behavior doesn’t match what we’re asking of them, they will notice.
In fact, a recent study out of the University of Michigan proved that it’s less about mealtime conversation and verbal encouragement and more about exhibiting the desired mealtime behavior. So, do the work, and lead by example.
Get Them Involved
Involving kids in meal-time decisions can help give them a sense of control. Meal planning and grocery shopping are great activities to invite your kids to participate in. This is also a great way to discover which vegetables they like best and even encourage trying something new. When it comes to meal prep, letting them pick how they want their vegetables prepared (raw or cooked) is also a simple way to get them involved.
Another great idea is planting a small vegetable garden. When kids are involved in where their vegetables come from, they’re more likely to be open to trying them.
Repeated Exposure
A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests the getting kids to eat their veggies mostly comes down to repetition. This means that the more you expose your child to vegetables, the more likely they will eat them.
Be consistent. Offer at least a small serving of veggies at every meal. Even if they only take a few bites, that’s more than they would have eaten otherwise and they’ll be more likely to try again at their next meal.
It’s All About The Pairing
Let’s face it, if kids have the option of eating pizza or broccoli, they’re probably going to eat the pizza first. And once they fill up on their favorite foods, they won’t be hungry enough to eat their veggies.
Consider pairing the veggies with a less desirable main dish that the kids still enjoy but isn’t quite as popular. Get creative! veggies don’t just have to be a side to the main course. If pizza is the go-to dinner of choice, why not add some veggie toppings? Another great strategy is offering veggies before dinner is ready. When kids are hungry, they’ll eat more, even if that means eating foods they normally wouldn’t.
Ready to get your kids active and do something good for their health? Try a martial arts training session at Invictus! Which class below are you most curious about?
November is Good Nutrition Month so we’re taking a look at some simple tips to encourage healthy eating. With the holidays quickly approaching it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to making smart nutrition choices.
Fortunately, establishing and practicing healthy eating habits now can pay off big in the long run and make navigating the food offerings at all those holiday parties less stressful.
There’s really no reason to wait until the new year to resolve to make your nutrition a top priority. As they say, the best time to start may have been yesterday, but the second best time to start is right now.
Here are our five simple tips to help you start eating healthier today:
1. It all starts at home
Create a home environment that makes it easier to make healthy food choices. That’s right, it all starts with cleaning out your pantry. To help you decide which foods can stay and which need to go, read the nutrition labels. Ingredients are listed in order of decreasing volume. So, if you see fat, sugar, or salt listed as one of the first ingredients, that’s not your healthiest option. Don’t get distracted by labels like “low-fat” or “light”. Despite being lower in fat, many times these foods are loaded with excess sugar or sodium. The good news is that anything you decided doesn’t belong in your pantry can easily be donated to a local food bank. Win-win.
Once your pantry (and fridge) are purged of the less than nutritious food choices, make sure you restock with plenty of healthy foods like fruits, nuts, vegetables, and good fats.
2. Meal plan for success
Believe it or not, according to a recent consumer survey, 53% of dinners are planned within an hour of eating them. Without a plan, you’re far more likely to end up in a drive-thru late at night eating foods high in trans fat. Planning ahead makes it easier to be healthy, especially on busy days. Start by planning your shopping list for the week. Pre-considering the health value of each item you add to your list will help you avoid impulse buys when you’re shopping.
In addition to making healthier food choices, you’ll also save a considerable amount of money. On average, it costs five times more to order a common meal from a restaurant than it does to cook the same meal at home.
3. Practice mindful eating
Mindful eating is a practice that encourages people to develop a deeper connection with food and begin to create lifelong, healthy habits. Connecting with the foods we eat can help us more easily recognize feelings of hunger and fullness and even help us experience better digestion.
To help keep the focus on the food, it is recommended to keep screens off during meal time. Whether it’s a snack or a meal, it’s so much easier to unintentionally over-eat if you’re distracted by your device. This is because when we’re distracted it becomes harder to listen to our body’s signals about food and other needs.
4. Know the difference between a snack and a treat
It’s common that people who are making an effort to make healthy eating choices often get the hang of eating healthier meals but struggle when it comes to how to handle the time between meals. Experts agree that aiming to eat every three hours or so can help us stay on track with our nutrition goals. But what we eat during those intervals is crucial to our success.
Remember, a snack is a small portion of food you eat between meals to satisfy your hunger and fuel your body. Some great choices are carrots, apple slices, or a handful of almonds. Alternatively, a treat is a less nutritious option that does not fuel your body and brain. So, that trip to the vending machine for a soda and a candy bar…you guessed it…that’s more of a treat and less of a snack after all.
5. Stay hydrated
It’s fairly common for people to confuse thirst for hunger. This is because the same part of your brain is responsible for interpreting hunger and thirst signals. So, how can you tell the difference? According to expert dietitians, signs of hunger can include feeling weak, irritable, or moody, or feeling your stomach rumble. Alternatively, signs of thirst may include dry-mouth, a mild headache, or feeling sluggish.
So, next time you think you’re hungry, test it out by drinking a glass of water and waiting 15 minutes. If you feel satisfied, you were probably just thirsty. If your stomach is still grumbling, try eating a nutritious snack.
As with most things in life, accountability is key. Get your family involved or recruit a friend to commit to healthier eating with you. Having a trusted ally can make all the difference when it comes to sticking to your healthy food choices. In no time at all, you’ll be eating better and feeling a whole lot better, too!
Ready to get active and do something good for your health? Try a martial arts training session at Invictus! Which class below are you most curious about?
The difference between a good and a bad workout often comes down to how you fuel your body. What you eat and when you eat it determines how hard you can push yourself during a training session. It also impacts how well your muscles recover afterwards.
Many people believe not eating before a workout will help them burn more fat. That’s simply not the case. In fact, not eating before a workout can lead to feeling lethargic or even faint during a workout. The main goal of eating before a workout is to prime our metabolism and replenish the glycogen that supplies our energy needs to our body.
So, how do you fuel your body for a successful workout without limiting your performance? The solution is a simple nutritional recipe for fitness success: drink plenty of water, and eat good carbs and lean protein.
Here are a few tips on how to best fuel your body to maximize your training experience.
Stay Hydrated
We can’t stress this enough: stay hydrated. Drinking water before you begin your workout is crucial. The amount of water your body needs will vary from person to person based on size and muscle mass. Do your own personal research to determine your optimal hydration requirements. The goal is to be fully hydrated within an hour of starting your workout. This is because the act of drinking water only starts the hydration process and our bodies need time to fully benefit. During a high-intensity workout, aim to drink water every 20-30 minutes to stay hydrated as you exercise. Keep in mind, when you drink water during your workout, you’re not just putting liquid back into your body, you’re also replenishing electrolytes, sodium, and glucose. Even better, drinking water can help regulate your body temperature and even prevent muscle cramps.
Eat Regularly Throughout The Day
We get it. Life happens and suddenly we find ourselves skipping meals and making excuses. The benefit of disciplining ourselves to eat at regular intervals throughout the day is that we can better maintain proper blood sugar levels and energy levels as well. Aim to eat about 300 to 500 calories about two hours before your workout. Remember, your body can only use food it’s already digested. Eating easily digestible food a couple of hours before you exercise will provide your body with the time it needs to properly fuel itself without making you feel too full.
Convinced you just can’t make that happen? Even just eating a 50 to 100 calorie snack consisting of fast-digesting carbs right before your workout can provide a quick burst of energy to fuel your fitness. Some great choices to eat on the go are fruits like oranges, bananas, apples, or raisins.
Just Say “No” To Some Foods
When it comes to fueling a great workout, avoid foods high in saturated fats like fried foods or pizza. In general, these kinds of foods take a long time to digest and tend to sit very heavy in your stomach. A small serving of good fats is much more ideal, such as half an avocado or a hand-full of almonds.
Additionally, while foods high in fiber are great for digestive health, consuming large servings of foods high in fiber right before a workout could upset your stomach. Consuming high-fiber foods like broccoli, lentils, or certain cereals before a workout draws blood flow to your digestive system rather than your muscles. This can limit the amount of oxygen, sugar, and amino acids your muscles receive as you exercise.
Lastly, avoid carbonated beverages like soda and seltzer before working out. These drinks can cause gas, bloating, and abdominal pain. They also contain significant amounts of sodium, which can cause dehydration.
Fuel Your Recovery
Jump start your recovery process by consuming good food within 30 to 45 minutes after completing your workout. Look for foods consisting of carbohydrates and a moderate amount of protein. Whole grains and lean meats work best for restoring glycogen stores and stimulating muscle protein synthesis. Fruit smoothies or protein shakes are great options if you’re crunched for time.
In general, macronutrients are key for maximizing your body’s recovery after a great workout. Protein helps repair and build muscles. Carbohydrates replenish your body’s glycogen stores. Good fats like avocado, nuts and seeds, eaten in moderation, have also been shown to aid in muscle growth after a workout.
Finally, don’t skip the water. Replenishing lost water and electrolytes will help you maximize the benefits of your workout.
Now that you’ve got some great tips for fueling your workout, try a FREE training session at Invictus! Which class below are you most curious about?
