Top 6 Misconceptions about Staying Fit

Rebecca Lewis February 10, 2015

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Strong and healthy is the new sexy. Gone are the days when people go with crash diets simply to lose weight and get thin. More and more people, especially women, are going for the tough yet more sustainable way of losing weight, gaining muscles, and boosting their confidence.

If you’re into staying fit this year (and perhaps in the years to come), there are few things you should remind yourself of. Going lean fit and healthy is not an agonising journey. It is actually a fun and really enjoyable experience, with the right mind-set.

If you think it involves giving up your favourite ‘unhealthy foods’, counting calories or forcing yourself in activities you hate, think again. These are merely misconceptions which unfortunately, many people still believe.

Common Misconceptions about Staying Fit

You have to count every single calorie you take. Counting calories is essential if you want to make sure that you don’t go beyond the recommended intake of 2,000 calories for women and 2,500 for men. But you don’t have to obsess about counting the calories of every little spec of food you eat. It’s enough to know around how many calories the food you commonly eat have, so you would be more mindful about proper portions.

Success is all about the scale.

Your weight loss or fitness success does not solely depend on the numbers you see on the scale. And if you are working out, chances are, you will hardly see significant decreases in your weight. That’s because as you lose fats, you also gain muscles (which are heavier than fats). You can measure success by the improvement in your mood and sense of well-being, leaner and more toned arms and legs, sexier figure, lose clothes, and a more energised body.

Losing weight is doing things you hate.

Exercising comes in many forms. If you don’t like the typical gym-based exercises, you can actually try more fun ways to burn calories and fats. They include running, cycling, or swimming. You can even go dancing. It’s a great whole-body workout that can really make you feel energised. Moreover, you can learn martial arts like boxing and many others. These sports are incredible ways to tone your body, lose weight and really boost your confidence.

Social gatherings can ruin your diet.

Just because you are dieting doesn’t mean you can no longer meet with your friends, take a few drinks and eat your heart out. If you do this every time, then you will really find it hard to stay fit. But do it once in a while and those nights out become more enjoyable. Plus, you won’t feel guilty. Do have a ‘cheat day’. Successful dieters always have a cheat day.

Working out to be in shape.

Why do you work out? Is it because you want to look better in front of your partner, friends or colleagues? If that’s your sole motivation, sticking to a fitness routine may become burdensome. That’s because the motivation is external. To succeed, it should come from within. Developing that internal motivation and will is the best way to keep yourself engaged, regardless of what the world says to you.

Losing weight is hating food.

When you get to know your body well, and you appreciate it more, you will become more conscious about what you eat. You will realise that eating junk food is only going to ruin your body. So, without forcing yourself, you will begin to favour healthier food options. Losing weight is not about hating food. It’s loving the food that benefits your body.