Fitness Quiz: Fact or Fiction
Debunk common myths and make progress on your goals
By Gabriella Enniss, Owner, Bliss Fit LLC | Courtesy Photos
Getting exercise and eating healthy is essential; we can all agree on that. The challenge is knowing how to begin or what to do. Gabriella Enniss, certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, reviews some common statements relating to fitness and nutrition and helps clarify which are true and which are false.
Weight loss is always seen on the scale. True or False?
FALSE. Not all scales are created equal, so there will always be a margin of error in accuracy. You may have experienced this when you weighed yourself at home and then at the doctor’s two days later, and the weight is very different. More importantly, our body’s total weight will fluctuate based on when we eat, our bathroom habits, a woman’s cycle and our water intake, to name a few. If you want to track fat loss, consider tracking with circumference measurements. Measurements help track inches lost in certain body parts (such as thigh, waist, hips and biceps), and most individuals will notice more changes here than on the scale, especially if they are building strength while losing fat.
The best way to get a “toned” stomach is through crunches. True or False?
FALSE: If you want to lose belly fat or have more muscle definition, diet will play a vital role, and the workout regimen needs to include functional ab exercises. Although crunches are a popular ab exercise, they are not the most functional, as they do not burn many calories and may cause back issues for many. Exercises like deadlifts and planks (see photo at left) provide functional core strengthening and burn more calories. Regarding diet, aim to eat high-protein foods, complex carbs and lots of vegetables to aid in fat loss.