Hey friends! Carly here from Inspire.
Today I want to talk about something I talk about FREQUENTLY in my small group sessions that might seem counterintuitive for a personal trainer to openly admit, but in my opinion, this is some of the most important and honest information I have to offer:
DO NOT WORK OUT TO LOSE WEIGHT.
Yes, I said it. Working out will not make you lose weight.
Ignore those “belly blasting circuit workouts” you see on Instagram.
Ignore your Fitbit telling you how many calories you burned in a workout.
Don’t join a gym if your only goal is to lose weight.
You might be confused… why would I, someone who promotes working out for a living, tell you that your workouts won’t actually make you lose body fat or get leaner?
Because working out is only a small part of the equation, and it’s what you eat that really matters.
You are never going to know exactly how many calories you burned in a workout, because I am sorry to say, but your fitness tracker is horribly inaccurate when it comes to counting calories burned. If you aren’t keeping track of what you are consuming and eating in a caloric deficit, you will not lose weight. Most people end up overeating after working out anyway because they feel they “earned” that overindulgence, and also grossly overestimate how many calories their workout actually burned.
It’s also worth mentioning that you cannot “spot reduce” fat. Meaning, doing ab exercises will not make your belly smaller, there is no magical exercise that will reduce your thigh fat, and doing tricep work will not reduce the “arm flab” you are so self-conscious about.
Stop thinking about exercise as your opportunity to burn belly fat, and instead, reframe it as your chance to be fueled with passion to become stronger, healthier, and more empowered.
Now working out should be fun, so if you just thoroughly enjoy those belly blasting circuit workouts you see on Instagram, then don’t let me stop you from a good time. But if you are truly looking to lose weight/fat, then follow these tips instead:
- Eat in a Caloric Deficit
- Walk Lots & Get Lots of Movement Throughout Your Day
- Lift Weights & Focus on Getting Stronger
- Get Plenty of Protein
- Get Plenty of Sleep
- Drink Plenty of Water
If you have been reading my newsletters for a while, then I might sound like a broken record, but these are truly so important, and so many people just aren’t hitting these basics.
As a nutrition coach, know that I am always available if you need some guidance. If you aren’t already a member of Inspire Personal Fitness, text us at 828-845-4953 to start your one-week free trial! We love helping our members to get stronger!
Until next time,
Carly Leasure, CPT, CNC, WLS
