Cross-Fit, hot yoga, boot camps, long distance training, low fat diets, calorie counting…is all the hype! Everyone seems to be talking about the newest trends in fitness and nutrition and how they can shed fat and awaken their youth.
One of the biggest problems is that most people are STILL making the same metabolism damaging mistakes. After years of yo-yo dieting, increasing time in the gym with a “More is Better” mentality, you are only damaging your metabolism. A damaged metabolism ages you prematurely, drains your energy, increases your risk of disease and will actually make you fatter!
The smart way to train incorporates a short, intense workout that melts the most fat in less time. Your goal should be to include weights 3 times a week with short bursts of cardio and then fill your free days with active rest such as; hiking, golf, tennis etc…
Stop making these three exercise and diet mistakes to regain your youth, healthy and to shed fat.
Mistake #1 – Working out Longer Burns More Fat
Working our longer will not get you results faster. The longer you exercise the more your body is under stress which results in higher cortisol levels. Too much cortisol causes your body to breakdown lean muscle tissue and store body fat particularly in your abdominal area. With shorter workouts and increased rest for recovery, cortisol can actually be a powerful fat burner.
Keep your workouts short and sweet! Aim for 30-40 minutes of intense, focused training. Train one to two body parts per training session for maximum health and fat loss.
Mistake #2 – Low Fat Diet
It may be hard to believe that a low fat diet actually causes you to be fatter! In fact, since the introduction of fat-free diets, our society has become more fat and sick than ever before.
Fat is not the enemy. Eating healthy fats does NOT make you fat. In fact, fat is an essential macronutrient that your body requires to look younger and feel healthy!
Fats are key in regulating and producing hormones for a youthful glow, absorbing nutrients, strengthening the immune system, enhancing brain and nerve function, decrease heart disease, increases energy, improves health of skin, hair and nails, regulates body weight and decrease body fat.
For optimal health include healthy fats at each meal from; nuts, seeds, olive oil, coconut oil, fatty fish, and avocados.
Mistake #3 – Exercise ADD
Do you ever see someone at the gym bouncing from one machine to next, mindlessly going through the motions in order to fit in as much as possible? It is like exercise ADD…they can never focus on one muscle group long enough to stimulate their metabolism and to build fat melting muscle tissue. Do you notice that their bodies NEVER change?
The secret is to focus on one body part at a time that will force your body to respond and to stimulate new muscle tissue and growth. However, not too long so that it elevates fat storing cortisol. When you hit this magic metabolizing sweet spot, it triggers your body to burn fat even 2-3 days after your workout as your body recovers, repairs and prepares to be challenged again in your next workout.
Keep your workouts short and intense (40 minutes MAX!) and only focus on 1-2 body parts for each workout.
Karen is a Holistic Lifestyle & Fitness Expert on a mission to cut through the over-complicated B.S. around food, health and well-being so that busy women, can learn how to transform their bodies and nourish their souls so they can feel strong, fit and confident.
