There are certain things that seem appealing in the moment but have long term consequences.
Like, I don’t know, having kids.
It feels good at first but then 9ish months later, you’re like … oh shit, this isn’t what I signed up for.
What once seemed appealing is now effectively ruining your life.
If you’re new around here, I’m sarcastic and that was a joke lol.
Let’s try another example.
How about the moment when you’re out with friends and you’re already pretty drunk.
But you’re having a blast and then one of your friends screams out … “shots!”
You know you shouldn’t.
You’re already hammered and who knows what will happen after shots.
But … YOLO.
It seems appealing in the moment but the next morning is pure misery.
You’re either doing the walk of shame, hugging the toilet, or some variation of both.
Wait … I’m supposed to be talking about fitness and nutrition, aren’t I?
Whoops.
5 fitness and nutrition habits that may do more harm than good
Ok then … let’s do the top 5 examples of fitness and nutrition habits that seem like a good idea in the moment but end up more damaging in the long run.
1. Meal plans
So you’re telling me I don’t have to think for myself and I just get to eat what’s written on a piece of paper?
Sign me up!
Seems like a great idea in the moment … until you realize that you’ve learned absolutely nothing through the process (except that you can read) and you end up back at square one feeling lost and confused.
Learn how to fish. Don’t ask to be handed a fish.
2. Saving up calories
Tis the season.
Many people will get the bright idea to restrict calories around their holiday and social gatherings in the next couple of months.
“I’m just gonna fast all day and then eat what I want on Thanksgiving!”
Seems like a great idea in the moment …
Until you end up ravenously hungry with no “off” button and wind up feeling gross and guilty the next day.
That’s one cycle that is tough to break.
Because after the binge-fest, most people decide to restrict again the next day and the pattern repeats itself over and over again.
Not as brilliant as it seemed in your head.
3. Extra workouts / no rest days
If I’m making some progress but I want to make MORE progress …
I can just exercise more!
Imagine the results I’ll get with 7 workouts per week instead of 5!
Ummm … how about none. No results.
But … the gym is my therapy.
Also, false.
The gym can be fun (when you’re not doing leg day).
It can help you clear your head.
But, it’s absolutely not your therapy.
It’s actually a stressor.
You need recovery to get better.
Results don’t happen because of what you do in the gym.
Results happen because of how you adapt to what you do in the gym (which requires proper recovery).
Training every day will impede that process.
Embrace rest days (or consider them recharge days like a brilliant programmer named JK likes to call them).
4. Following the fitness and nutrition habits of the herd
Mary did CrossFit and is a beast so I’m gonna do CrossFit!
Susan did Optavia and lost 77 pounds in 4 days so I’m gonna do Optavia (even though Susan gained it all back because literally everyone gains it all back on Optavia).
Anyway, you get the point.
You don’t have to do a training modality or a nutrition program because of what someone else did.
You have no idea if their results are sustainable or if it’s the right fit for you.
It might seem like a good idea to do something that worked for someone else but it’s usually not.
There’s always more than what meets the eye.
For example, you may not know that when you start doing CrossFit you have to tell every person you encounter that you do CrossFit or else you get exiled ;).
And when you do Optavia, you have to try to hypnotize other people and tell them that it’s the best MLM, I mean “nutrition” program out there.
You ready for all that?
5. Short term extremes
Let’s do 75 hard, bro!
It’ll be so badass, we’ll remove all joy from our lives and then here’s the best part …
After 75 days, we’ll completely lose all of our progress and then 2 months later we can try it again!
No one wants to play the long game because it’s not exciting enough.
But hot damn … it’s effective.
There are so many short term extremes out there and they always do more harm than good.
We teach our clients fitness and nutrition habits that will last for LIFE.
You don’t have to eliminate food groups or eat 800 calories or try to be perfect for any length of time.
It’s amazing what you can do when you actually focus on sustainability and making this a lifestyle.
I know, I know, I’m such a buzzkill.
But … you can’t hate on our track record.
Our clients build successful fitness and nutrition habits for life.
We take them from extreme to balanced.
From frustration to freedom.
From feeling like nothing will ever work to feeling like they never have to diet again.
We win at the long game every single time.
So … you can keep trying all of these short term “exciting” strategies …
And hope they work for you.
Or, you can do something with a proven track record for long term success.
If you want the latter, the opportunity is yours to take.
All it requires is sending me a private message on FB.
From there, we’ll schedule a quick chat to make sure it’s a good fit on both sides.
If you can’t get yourself to send the message and/or schedule a call … you’re not ready.
That’s ok.
We’ll keep setting examples with those who are.
