Want to Get Into Shape? Avoid This Trend

If there is any area of our lives that is flooded with an overwhelming amount of information, it's gotta be health and fitness.

The number of diet and fitness plans are mind-boggling and equally overwhelming; each supposedly better than the last one. And like most things, there are advocates for each and every opinion.

This is an important subject for many, by the fact that billions of dollars are spent every year just on supplements alone.

But I gotta ask...do you see billions of dollars of results? With every new and improved idea, achieving a decent level of fitness seems elusive for many.

This isn't new.

Think of the fitness trends over the years.

Aerobics

Tae Bo

Zumba

Cross-fit

HIIT

That's just a cross-section. I mean, do you remember when squeezing a hunk of plastic between your legs was going to transform your body? Or back in the 60's how the vibrating belt was going to melt off the pounds?

But here we are still searching and scrambling for the holy grail of health and fitness.

How about diets?

Keto, Paleo, Carnivore, Atkins, No/low carb. Or the cleanses like the grapefruit diet?

It's never-ending!

Can I make a suggestion?

The trend we might want to stay away from is following trends

The Latest?

Protein. I'm a big fan of protein but now food marketers are capitalizing on this by adding it to processed food and calling it healthy. Most protein bars sold in heath stores aren't healthy.

If you go to any supermarket you will see how the food industry is encouraging you to buy less than ideal products. I've seen products like cereals, chocolate bars, even mac & cheese promoted as a healthy protein option.

But read the fine print and you will see a slew of ingredients you can't pronounce. It's incredible to me to see so many highly-processed foods palmed off as "good for you".

Not good.

So what's the answer?

Basic Training

I believe we can make some meaningful health & fitness gains by avoiding trends altogether, and stick to the basics, like...

1. Eat healthy protein (eggs, chicken, yogurt, beans, fish etc) at every meal.
2. Engage in resistance training 3 times a week - 90 minutes is a great start.
3. Go for a walk most days.
4. Eat healthy (whole foods) 80% of the time
5. Maintain a caloric deficit (f you're trying to lose weight)
6. Get enough sleep
7. Drink water every day

There is nothing trendy about this list, but I am convinced that if you focus on it rather than the next new idea, you will see results.

One more thing about this list...other than some time, it won't cost you more than you're paying now.

What do you think?

The greatest trend you can follow is to not follow trends at all.

Let me know what you think.

Until next time - Dan