By Jeff Harrison
PHC General Manager

Wouldn’t it be grand if getting rid of body fat was as easy as just taking a pill or doing a specific exercise?  Sure, the supplement and pharmaceutical industries would like you to believe that it is indeed that easy. The fact is, if it were that easy, then everybody would or could do it.  Unfortunately, that is not the case.  While losing body fat is not easy, it’s not impossible either. Newsweek just ran a story on the myth vs. reality when it come to fat loss. Here are some of the more common mistakes exercisers make in their quest to decrease body fat. 

1) Neglecting nutrition

Your nutrition is more important than your workout. Repeat. Your nutrition is more important than your workout. You must follow an eating program where you eat fewer calories than you need, and you must focus on high-quality, nutrient dense foods. An apple is a nutrient dense food.  A bagel is an energy dense food. No gimmicks, no pills, no powders, and no diets!

2) Worrying about how many calories are counted on the cardio machine

This number is irrelevant because there are too many factors that affect calories burned and none of the cardio machines have those capabilities.  What you can control is your intensity, or how hard you work.  It’s simple, common sense. The harder you work, the more you burn. Period.
 
3) Doing the same workout over and over again

Don’t get stuck on autopilot doing the same thing over and over, no matter how much you like it. Do something different on your off-days. Try different types of workouts. Change up your routine every 4 weeks - never go longer than 6 weeks on a program. Remember, change is good!  

4) No accountability

Who’s there to keep you on target when you fall off? How can you honestly track your success if you’re making it up as you go? Family, a friend, a spouse, or a certified fitness professional? Success is greater with support. Take notes. Keep track of your food intake and your workout output.

Take charge of yourself and great things can happen!