When it comes to fitness, there’s so much information online and you don’t necessarily know what’s true and what isn’t. One article says Zumba will help you burn 1000 calories per session, but another tells you you’re not doing enough.
You try your best to read through the mess and find answers that will make you feel your healthiest and maybe lose a few inches too. Which is backed by science, and which is myth? Could they both be myths?
I want to help you find the answers. Join me this week as I reveal one-by-one the biggest fitness myths that I’m most asked about when new clients are just starting back into fitness.
Not only will we go through a new myth together every day, but I’ll reveal real fitness facts backed by science.
Let’s get you back on track to living your fittest life one day, and one less myth, at a time.
Yesterday you found out exactly how many days you need to workout to get results. To find out how many days are best click here.
Today, it’s Day 4 of our myth debunking week!
Now let’s get started with today’s myth…
Myth #4: I Can Eat More When I Exercise And Still Lose Weight
When you exercise, you burn more calories, so you may think you can eat more too. This is a huge misconception that I see well-intentioned women fall into time, and time again.
It can get even more confusing when popular weight loss programs give you more to eat on higher fitness days. Yet, this tends to be because you’re already on a plan that’s giving you a lower than usual calorie intake.
When beginning to get fit and eat healthy (that is, eating a proper amount of healthy foods and not lower calorie plans that make you feel restricted, or on a diet) seeing little to no changes to your body or to your weight may make you feel so disheartened. You genuinely think you’re doing everything right. You’re eating healthy and exercising, but the scale doesn’t budge, or your pants get more and more snug.
It is true that you burn more calories when you exercise, but if you want to lose weight, you need to create a calorie deficit, so eating back those workout calories will either cause you to gain more weight, or to feel frustrated when your weight doesn’t budge.
To make sure you’re eating proper portions sizes for healthy weight loss, log your food at first.
If you use electronic logging apps, such as myfitnesspal.com or fitday.com, don’t log your exercise and make sure your exercise apps aren’t going to automatically record to your logging apps.
While these apps do take into consideration the calories, proteins, fats and carbohydrates you need for healthy weight loss, it doesn’t make up for the deficit you’ll need for healthy weight loss.
If and only if you start to feel hungry, try adding 100 extra calories per day until you’ve reached a place where you feel full, yet you continue to lose weight.
Another contributing factor to help you lose weight is lifting weights to increase muscle mass! Increasing strength is also a valuable step in developing confidence and overall body health! However, finding the proper size weights to help you feel firmer and stronger can be challenging.
If you find yourself asking “how much weight should I use to feel firmer and stronger?”Then click here to take my test and find out! There’s a fun workout video that will guide you through exactly what to do!