Gym and Diet Fads Debunked

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24 Hour Fitness

Working out and losing weight should be done in a healthy way. This means that following diet fads that appear on ads online should be avoided.

Emma Safari, Photojournalist

As more people enter the fitness industry, many partake in false fads and trends that are wildly unhealthy. These trends include misleading diets, diet pills, and unreliable exercises. A majority of the people, however, do not understand the unnecessary health related risks.

New gym-goers may see false advertisements promoting singular exercises to “target fat” in specific areas. This is evidently false. Targeting fat is one of the many gym fads that convinces the gym users that doing certain sets of exercises will rid the body of stubborn fat that is packed on above the muscle. This idea of working out to lose weight in a specific area is absolutely impossible without a proper diet plan and exercise plan. Fat is distributed evenly throughout the body, even though some areas show this fat more. “You need to be hitting the weights at least three days per week,” (https://www.healthline.com)  

Another fad that has started becoming more popular in the fitness and sporting industry is weight loss pills. Weight loss pills are a form of pills that suppress the user’s appetite and or slow and reduce the body’s ability to absorb fats. However, weight loss pills come with a large handful of downsides. For example, nausea, constipation, headaches, insomnia, vomiting, dry mouth, and dizziness, to name a few. These pills, which are approved by the Federal Drug and Food Administration, are not magical weight loss boosting pills. All of the pills have side effects and none of them are risk free.

“Sports and lifting weights are a great way to lose weight and gain muscle. But you can’t really do this without a good diet that incorporates vegetables, fruits, protein, and carbs.”

— Aidan Mintzer

In addition, diets such as cutting out certain food groups is also another fitness fad that has arisen. Many people are seen avoiding carbs and all sugars in order to cut down on calories. This is not very safe due to the fact that the body needs all food groups in order to function properly. Sugars provide quick energy while carbohydrates provide long lasting energy throughout the day. Cutting out food groups completely throws the body’s natural balance off and causes the body to readjust completely.

In order to effectively and safely reduce and lose weight, a person must eat a balanced diet and work out regularly. These ‘cheat codes’ to losing weight cheat the person out of a healthy balance. Nutritionists are a great way to get started and personal trainers are incredibly effective when it comes to the gym.