MYTH BUSTERS, part 1

Here's the thing - I think Journey was wrong when they sang “Don’t Stop Believin’” …. Because sometimes that’s EXACTLY what you have to do when it comes to the lies we have learned about what it takes to lose weight.

 There is just SO much information out there and wading through the wellness-waters can be pretty daunting. You can feel like you’re lost at sea. 

 So, today I’m taking three myths and debunking them for you so that you have the facts, not the fiction. And get ready, because I have three more coming at ya next week! 

MYTH 1: THE BATHROOM SCALE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TRACK MY WELLNESS GOALS

We women have this one ingrained in our brains, don’t we? The scale is deceptive and does not present an accurate or complete picture of a body’s wellness. 

 When we step on the bathroom scale, it’s measuring everything: your bones, muscles, organs, as well as anything you had to eat or drink before you stepped on the scale, the heavy headband you’re wearing, the chunky sweatpants, if you’re retaining more water than normal, etc. IT’S NOT AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF YOUR WELLNESS JOURNEY. Plus, muscle weighs more than fat. So if you’re working out and making good food choices, but the scale isn’t going down, that will take the wind right out of your sails! 

 Instead, gauge the way your clothes are fitting. Use a measuring tape to track your progress. Ditch the scale! If your clothes are looser and you are losing inches - you’re on the right track! 

MYTH 2: EATING FAT WILL MAKE ME GAIN FAT                                                                                                                          Actually our bodies need healthy fats! Keyword: healthy fats. Not the scarf-down-a-Big Mac-kind of fat. Instead the fuel-for-your-body kind. 

 In actuality, one of the leading causes of obesity is high levels of the fat storing hormone insulin. The food group that causes it to rise the highest: carbohydrates. 

Consuming carbohydrates in excess causes our bodies to secrete high levels of insulin, which drives fat storage. Ironically, consuming fat produces virtually no release of insulin, and proper consumption of healthy fats actually improves most biomarkers like HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

 Things like avocados, nuts, chia seeds, and fish are some of the things considered to be healthy fats and are things you want to make sure you’re including in your wellness plan. 

 So my friends, give (HEALTHY!) fats a chance! 

MYTH 3: 10 MINUTES OF EXERCISE IS USELESS                                                                                                                    This is SO false! 10 minutes can be SO GOOD! So many of the ladies I work with struggle with having enough time in their day for a workout. And I get it, life is busy! 

 But  there are a lot of benefits from a quick high intensity session. A 10-minute body weight circuit, for example, can burn calories in the short term, but if it’s intense enough, can cause a body to keep burning energy at a higher rate for hours after the workout. This leads to an elevated metabolism and higher calorie burn...with just 10 minutes!  Also, a short session just might help spur you on to do a bit more later in the day. It’s amazing what you can do with just 10 minutes. Next time you’re close to ditching the workout, don’t discount what you can do with the time you do have!

 Your wellness journey doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It just takes small steps which, when put together, lead to long strides. I want to help you take those steps and in the right direction! 

 No disrespect to our guys in Journey, I mean there are a lot of things I don’t want you to “Stop Believin’” but wellness myths are not among them. So, I’ll be back next week for three more busted myths!

In Good Health,

LZ