These 10 Well-Intentioned Fitness Tips From Personal Trainers Will Actually Hurt You

You’re looking to get in shape.

You’ve always wanted to have a better body so being stronger, fitter and leaner sounds like a dream.

You know it comes with hard work, discipline and endurance. And getting a personal trainer sounds like a good idea, after all, they’re experts in their field. But, it’s wise to know when a trainer is leading you in the wrong direction.

And it happens more than you might think.

Ensuring your safety and well-being

There are plenty of well-intentioned trainers who yearn to help those looking to improve their health and tone their muscles. Plenty of trainers give guidance that will get you to where you want to be. Unfortunately, not every piece of advice is as reliable as you may think…

The 10 Well-Intentioned Pieces of Advice You Shouldn’t Take:

#1. “Go hard or go home.”

This slogan seems to be everywhere.

Athletic t-shirts and gym posters do a good job touting this harsh advice to improve the exerciser’s morale and motivate them into exercising more than they can handle. This idea is also said by personal trainers when their clients are exhausted, tired and worn out before their time is up. The trainee is made to feel bad if they can’t bench press more weight or run any longer.

However, following this advice can be a recipe for an injury. The key to change is the kind that is slow and steady. When you’re working out, you should strive to do as many repetitions as possible while maintaining perfect form.

#2. “There are specific exercises that focus on the areas with fat.”

Most people looking to get a personal trainer and exercise regularly also wish to lose fat they’ve gained through the months or years. Losing weight is an additional positive that comes with training with a fitness expert. Hearing that there are specific exercises aimed to target particular areas of fat on your body sounds like music to a beginner exerciser’s ears.

Unfortunately, it’s simply untrue. Although there are gimmicks and tricks claiming to burn fat off specific areas of the body, a trainer who says this is true isn’t helping you. Losing body fat and building muscle can help trim fat off your body overall, but there’s no one-trick exercise cure. You cannot target specific areas for fat loss. 

#3. “If you really want to lose weight, all you need is exercise.”

Some people believe that exercising is all they need to do to lose weight. They think they can eat all the sugary and processed foods they want if they just jump on the treadmill and hit the gym. Hearing a personal trainer tell them that all they need to do is exercise in order to burn their fat off is exactly what they would love to hear.

Still, the truth says otherwise. If you want to lose weight, you’ll need to exercise and eat healthy. Getting the right amount of nutrients you need to stay strong and fit will make you feel better and perform better on your weight loss journey. A custom workout plan helps with this as well.

Check out The Weight Loss Deception: Calories VS Calories Out for a full breakdown of what it will take to shed the extra pounds for good.

#4. “You need to drink this.”

Although personal trainers are educators when it comes to physical fitness, they’re not nutritionists. Beware the personal trainer who tells you to eat or drink a great amount of one thing or another.

For some clients, this may have worked in the past. However, a doctor or nutritionist may tell you differently after going over your medical history. Taking a wide array of supplements and protein shakes may seem harmless, but there are reactions and adverse side effects that you may experience if you’re not careful. Not too mention many of the mainstream “nutritional supplements” are made with low quality, synthetic ingredients including artificial sweeteners.

Here’s a great article by David Aston, where he talks about natural muscle building and why most supplements aren’t necessary.

#5. “Always push through your pain.”

Some beginners and advanced exercisers believe that pain is a good thing. Although soreness can happen after a tough workout, pain is never a good sign. Your body is telling you that you need to stop. Whether you’re at the gym with a trainer or have an online personal trainer by your side, you want to have the custom workout plan that works well for you. There are plenty of exercises that work your arms, legs and abdominal muscles.

If you’re looking for a new workout plan or some inspiration to create your own, here are 13 reasons this post will make you stronger -guaranteed.

#6. “The best time for an effective workout is in the morning or at night.”

There are some who believe that a good workout routine that gets results can only be done in the morning or at night. Individuals have been known to brag about the metabolism boosts gained in the early hours of the day. Others boast over the calories they burn at night, claiming this nighttime ritual is canceling out what they’ve eaten the last 12 hours.

When it comes to burning fat or building muscle, it doesn’t matter what time exercising is completed. As long as you’re working hard, eating clean, getting the right amount of rest and consistently exercising, you’ll see results.

#7. “Do situps and crunches to protect your spine.”

Exercisers who do crunches and situps tend to perform these exercises in hopes of gaining a six-pack and sculpting their abdominal muscles. However, doing too many of these can cause problems in your spine and give you back problems.

Personal trainers who want to help you build muscles safely will recommend other exercises, like those on a Swiss ball, to improve abdominal strength. A trainer at your gym or an online personal trainer will show you how to do these exercises safely.

These are the 10 best exercises for 6 pack abs.

#8. “All you need to do is cardio.”

Although cardiovascular health is important, it’s not everything. It’s one part of a healthy workout that will put you on track to physical success. The personal trainer that’s right for you will know to include weight training in your exercise routine. Contrary to popular belief, lifting weights will not make you bulk up instantly. Weight training will help you lose more fat.

When you’re muscle are adequately hydrated and are being stimulated, you increase protein synthesis, which in turn increase your resting metabolic rate. This means you’ll be burning calories long after your workout is done. 

#9. “You need to pile on the carbohydrates.”

People looking to get fit tend to hear about loading up on carbohydrates before working out. Trainers can be seen telling their clients to fill up on these foods to prepare for the exercise routine the following day. However, unless you’re planning to exercise more than an hour and a half the next day, there’s no need to consume a huge amount of carbs.

If you want to be “superhuman,” here are the 10 unhealthy eating habits you must avoid.

#10. “Don’t rest between your sets.”

There’s this idea out there that going as fast as possible through your exercise routine is the way to go. Never resting between sets is seen as an accomplishment for those looking to get the most out of their session, but this isn’t a good way of thinking. Trainers who encourage you to never rest between sets are putting you at a greater risk for an injury. It’s best to take at least a 30-45 second break between sets.

If you want to lose weight and gain muscle, you’ll want to do it safely. Get the personal trainer you deserve and you’ll have the custom workout plan that will get you the results you want. Take the time to find someone who has your best interest in mind. If you’re shy about meeting somebody in person, Exerscribe (online personal trainer) is a great alternative and you can download it directly to your smartphone.