Avoiding the Extremes
Sometimes, you will get two pieces of advice that seem to conflict, but that are actually both pointing you to a middle ground. “Too many cooks spoil the broth” seems to be the exact opposite of “Many hands make light the work.” But actually, both are true. It’s just that there’s a sweet spot between doing a job all by yourself and having a hundred people barging in.For a fitness example? I hear people swear that the sauna has many health benefits, but others caution it can make you dehydrated. Well, they’re both right. (Except the folks who say the heat of the sauna will make you lose fat. That's wrong.) If you want to use the sauna, there’s some good evidence that it has health benefits—just make sure you’re getting enough water, because you’re going to sweat in there and you need to replace those fluids.
Here’s another one. Creatine is just about the only fitness supplement that has been scientifically proven to be helpful with your workouts. But!!! There was that 16-year-old in [pick a state] who collapsed during a [pick a sport] game because he had taken too much creatine. Well, yeah, 16-year-olds are not renowned for their good judgement. Assuming the story is true, the kid probably took some obscenely large mega dose and not enough water and yeah, that wouldn’t have been good for him. But if you take the recommended dose and make sure you’re well-hydrated—that is important—then creatine can help you recover more quickly from high-effort activities like sprinting and weight training, and can help with the development of lean muscle tissue.
Are you seeing a pattern? Moderation. Two people pointing in opposite directions might be pointing to the same place. Go to that place.
Sure It’s True, But for Whom?
Fitness folks tend to assume that the whole world has the same goals, experience, and body type as they do. And unfortunately, many will make broad, sweeping statements based on what has worked for them without really checking—or caring—whether their statement applies to the person they’re hollering at. And when another of these zealots with differing goals, experience, and body type starts to holler back, things can get ugly…and bewildering for the poor, inexperienced bystander who just wanted to know where the drinking fountain is. Here are some classics you’re bound to hear at one point or another:- Always work out fasted. (This may be true for people doing cardio to burn fat)
- Never go to the gym on an empty stomach. (Definitely good advice if you’re planning to lift weights)
- You must do the Big 3 Lifts: bench press, squats, and deadlifts. (If your goal is to get very strong or compete as a powerlifter, definitely yes.)
- There are plenty of great alternatives to the Big 3 Lifts. (True, especially if you’re more into building muscle size or lifting for overall health rather than getting massively strong.)
- Deadlifts will kill your back. (If you use bad form or too much weight, they will. But they’re also a terrible idea for people with unresolved back injuries. Or other injuries, for that matter.)
- Deadlifts will save your back. (Maybe. They sure helped mine. But again, deadlifts are for strengthening a weak body, not for healing a broken one.)
- I did XYZ and look at me! So you should do XYZ too! (Good for them. And XYZ might work for you, but maybe not. Do some research.)
- Just work through the pain. (If your muscles are slightly sore from a workout you did a few days ago, you’ll probably be okay. If your pain feels like an injury, it’s terrible advice to work through it without the advice of a doctor or trained physical therapist.*)
- * By the way, I’ve been known to work through the pain even when I shouldn’t have. It was stupid. Full disclosure.
Most importantly, beware of claims that this or that is best for you, if the person speaking doesn’t know much about you, your body, your goals, and your previous experience. I’ve even heard tales of personal trainers who launched their client into a workout program without asking about previous injuries or even asking serious questions about the client’s prior experience. When someone does that to you, thank them for the advice (you’ll never get anywhere by arguing with them) and walk away.
How to Get Better Advice
If you ask people online or in person for diet or workout advice, any suggestions you get will be completely worthless if you haven’t given them any context. Are you trying to burn fat? Build muscle? Develop stamina? Get stronger? Improve your performance in cycling? Or swimming? Or pogo stick? Are you a rank beginner, seasoned veteran, or somewhere in between? Any injuries in your past that might be relevant? Diabetes? Food allergies? Are you going to a gym or working out at home, where you might not have access to a wide array of equipment?If you go to a bunch of people and just ask, “How can I get fit?”, you’ll get advice. Oh boy, will you get it. But most of it likely won’t be useful or applicable to you. Here are some examples of better ways to ask:
“I really enjoy using my stationary bike. I’m looking to burn fat, and I’ve been doing 30-minute sessions and even though I’m getting faster, I’m not losing fat like I used to. What can I do to re-energize my fat loss?”
“I’m 39 years old and I’d like to build some muscle, but I’ve never lifted weights before, and have no idea what I’m doing. How should I approach my first few workouts? And where can I find a good eating plan to help me build that muscle without putting on much fat?”
“I’ve been lifting for a couple years now, and I’m doing well on everything except the squat. Every time I try to squat, my ankles and knees hurt a lot. Are there certain form mistakes that commonly cause that?”
Sometimes It’s Okay to Ignore Advice
Give careful consideration to advice you get from people who seem knowledgeable and sane. Much of what you hear will be solid wisdom for most people, most of the time. But it’s your body and your diet and your workout, and even advice that was excellent for someone else may not be the best choice for you. In the end, you need to do something that doesn’t hurt you, that you enjoy, and that helps you make the progress you’re looking for. Don’t let people paralyze you or bully you into doing something that seems like a bad idea or a waste of time. Listen to the advice, do a bit of research, make your own decision, and move forward.I’ll tell you a secret. That’s the best any of us can do.
Stay sane out there!
The Friendly Lifter
No comments:
Post a Comment