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Fitness and diet myths that just won't go away
Replies
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cwolfman13 wrote: »"Go hard or go home"...the notion that exercise has to be some kind of sufferfest to be beneficial and if you're not ready to puke when you're done, you might as well have done nothing at all.
I do think that having some more vigorous efforts thrown into the mix is beneficial from a health and fitness standpoint...but IMO, unless you're specifically training for something, an overall active lifestyle is where it's at. And if you are training specifically for something, I would also think one would know how to train and would know that every training bout shouldn't be some crazy workout.
Most of the very fit and healthy people I know do "workout" some...but by and large, they are just active and enjoy being out on their bikes or hiking or rock climbing, kayaking, walking, going for a jog, etc.
This is very insightful for me. I have found that I will sometimes not exercise at all because I think I have to workout like an Olympian or it to be beneficial.5 -
paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »One needs to "hydrate" and/or bring a water bottle for a 30 minute leisurely walk around the neighborhood.
That doesn't sound silly to me - I guess not something you absolutely need, depending on the climate but seems sensible especially in hot weather.
Muslins have fasted from sunrise to sunset in observation of Ramadan for centuries (which includes no water) in all sorts of climates doing all sorts of activities
Again no need to hydrate on a leisure 30 minute walk around the neighborhood..
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Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »One needs to "hydrate" and/or bring a water bottle for a 30 minute leisurely walk around the neighborhood.
That doesn't sound silly to me - I guess not something you absolutely need, depending on the climate but seems sensible especially in hot weather.
Muslins have fasted from sunrise to sunset in observation of Ramadan for centuries (which includes no water) in all sorts of climates doing all sorts of activities
Again no need to hydrate on a leisure 30 minute walk around the neighborhood..
I agree there is generally no need to have a drink after 30 minutes, assuming the weather is not stonkingly hot, but just because Muslims go without water for an entire day for their religious reasons does not make it a healthy practice.14 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »One needs to "hydrate" and/or bring a water bottle for a 30 minute leisurely walk around the neighborhood.
Agreed. I normally walk for an hour and I need to restrict water intake for about 30 minutes prior to heading out as there are no public restrooms on my walk route and water goes straight through me. (Although this tactic may be unique to middle-aged lady bladders) If it's very hot outside I do carry a water bottle but don't drink until after the halfway point or my "walk" turns into a sprint.12 -
I joined a new gym about a month ago that has the saying on the wall: "Pain is weakness leaving the body." Ugh!!! As someone who has had not-good pain during and from working out, that is such a stupid saying. Sometimes pain means you're doing too much or doing it wrong, or something is "wrong" in your body! Honestly, if the only other gym in town wasn't crap (I had to join this one because my last one closed suddenly), seeing that on the wall may have been enough for me not to join.
I also don't consider the feeling I get when I'm at the end of my sets during weightlifting as "pain" either, because I need to be able to differentiate that from actual pain.11 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »One needs to "hydrate" and/or bring a water bottle for a 30 minute leisurely walk around the neighborhood.
That doesn't sound silly to me - I guess not something you absolutely need, depending on the climate but seems sensible especially in hot weather.
Muslins have fasted from sunrise to sunset in observation of Ramadan for centuries (which includes no water) in all sorts of climates doing all sorts of activities
Again no need to hydrate on a leisure 30 minute walk around the neighborhood..
Leaving religious practices aside - yes I agreed there is no NEED for it for most people in most conditions - but doesnt seem a silly idea and indeed seems a very sensible idea in hot conditions.
Ive done a 5km fun run/walk (takes me about 40 minutes to walk it) and water stations are set up along the route.
If I am going by myself, doesn't seem silly to take my own water
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Speakeasy76 wrote: »I joined a new gym about a month ago that has the saying on the wall: "Pain is weakness leaving the body." Ugh!!! As someone who has had not-good pain during and from working out, that is such a stupid saying. Sometimes pain means you're doing too much or doing it wrong, or something is "wrong" in your body! Honestly, if the only other gym in town wasn't crap (I had to join this one because my last one closed suddenly), seeing that on the wall may have been enough for me not to join.
I also don't consider the feeling I get when I'm at the end of my sets during weightlifting as "pain" either, because I need to be able to differentiate that from actual pain.
When people say to me, "No pain, no gain," I reply, "No pain, no PAIN."11 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »One needs to "hydrate" and/or bring a water bottle for a 30 minute leisurely walk around the neighborhood.
Agreed. I normally walk for an hour and I need to restrict water intake for about 30 minutes prior to heading out as there are no public restrooms on my walk route and water goes straight through me. (Although this tactic may be unique to middle-aged lady bladders) If it's very hot outside I do carry a water bottle but don't drink until after the halfway point or my "walk" turns into a sprint.
I have to do the same......3 -
That weight-loss surgery is somehow cheating and taking the 'easy' road. It wouldn't be my choice - but I can't imagine thinking less of anyone who decides on that tack.12
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Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »One needs to "hydrate" and/or bring a water bottle for a 30 minute leisurely walk around the neighborhood.
That doesn't sound silly to me - I guess not something you absolutely need, depending on the climate but seems sensible especially in hot weather.
Muslins have fasted from sunrise to sunset in observation of Ramadan for centuries (which includes no water) in all sorts of climates doing all sorts of activities
Again no need to hydrate on a leisure 30 minute walk around the neighborhood..
I'm not super familiar with Ramadan fasting but it's my understanding that there are lots of exemptions from the strictest requirements. I don't believe it's every single person regardless of age or health.
(My experience with this is Christian fasting seasons of Lent and Advent. The restrictions are much looser now for many [and many don't observe at all], but the idea that is that with fewer restrictions, more people can participate. In the past, when restrictions were much more intensive, fewer people fasted. And for even those who were in very good health, the idea was often that there was that there was an ideal to strive for, but that many would not meet it. [And water has always been permitted.])
I do prefer to take water with me but fwiw I don't think I'll die without it. If I forget, it's fine. It's just a matter of comfort, especially in hot weather. In the summer I'm much more likely to want it than a cool spring or fall day.1 -
my understanding of Ramadan fasting (not super familiar either) is that there are exemptions for medical reasons, pregnant/breastfeeding women, children, elderly, and people working in physical outdoor jobs (for water at least)
and anyway it is a religious practice that is suppossed to be about temporary additional self discipline - not a guide for what is the best practice for health in normal circumstances.
Using - 'but Muslims fast during the day in Ramadan' - to equate to 'it is a silly myth to take water on a walk' doesn't make sense.
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Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »One needs to "hydrate" and/or bring a water bottle for a 30 minute leisurely walk around the neighborhood.
That doesn't sound silly to me - I guess not something you absolutely need, depending on the climate but seems sensible especially in hot weather.
Muslins have fasted from sunrise to sunset in observation of Ramadan for centuries (which includes no water) in all sorts of climates doing all sorts of activities
Again no need to hydrate on a leisure 30 minute walk around the neighborhood..
Gee, I always thought muslins were different types of cotton material
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I’ve just had a fairly heated argument with my husband about this one, this morning. He’s been banging on about it for weeks and I ‘snapped’. 🤦♀️
And l will add this myth that I don’t think has been mentioned yet:
‘You have to eat only the foods appropriate for your blood type in order to lose weight’
🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ 🙄11 -
The “magic” of keto, calories don’t matter and weight melts off.
I am on a ketogenic diet and I still log my calories. My friends are shocked I am “only” losing about a lb a week, but my providers are pleased.11 -
Can't remember whether someone mentioned this on the thread before (maybe even me) and not so much a myth as a misunderstanding:
* White flour (and derivatives) and things of that ilk are simple carbs
* Fruits are complex carbs
* Cookies, chocolate, alcohol are "carbs" (worse yet, pizza is "a carb")
No.6 -
Can't remember whether someone mentioned this on the thread before (maybe even me) and not so much a myth as a misunderstanding:
* White flour (and derivatives) and things of that ilk are simple carbs
* Fruits are complex carbs
* Cookies, chocolate, alcohol are "carbs" (worse yet, pizza is "a carb")
No.
Piggy back off of this... there was a thread on Friday where someone called ice cream a simple carb... DOH!!4 -
Can't remember whether someone mentioned this on the thread before (maybe even me) and not so much a myth as a misunderstanding:
* White flour (and derivatives) and things of that ilk are simple carbs
* Fruits are complex carbs
* Cookies, chocolate, alcohol are "carbs" (worse yet, pizza is "a carb")
No.
Piggy back off of this... there was a thread on Friday where someone called ice cream a simple carb... DOH!!
Does that mean gelato with mix-ins would be a complex carb? 😉😆8 -
BarbaraHelen2013 wrote: »
I’ve just had a fairly heated argument with my husband about this one, this morning. He’s been banging on about it for weeks and I ‘snapped’. 🤦♀️
And l will add this myth that I don’t think has been mentioned yet:
‘You have to eat only the foods appropriate for your blood type in order to lose weight’
🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ 🙄
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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The Blood Type Diet is my absolute favorite goofy diet.4
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Starvation mode6
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Ab energiser belt that promises to melt away belly fat. You just have to wrap it around your waist for 15-20 minutes and do nothing .
I was dumb enough to believe that *kitten* And purchase it when I was 15-16 and didn't have much fat on my body4 -
mariek1072 wrote: »Starvation mode
This is a really hard one to get rid of... there was a recent MFP blog (one of the blogs posted in the emails that get sent out) where an RD started the article with the tired old nonsense about how skipping breakfast tells your body to down-regulate it's metabolism because food is in short supply... just sigh.9 -
That 30 minutes of exercising 4 times a week is gonna be where the weight comes off. It’s in being active and staying in a caloric deficit. Step goals are more realistic.2
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cwolfman13 wrote: »"Go hard or go home"...the notion that exercise has to be some kind of sufferfest to be beneficial and if you're not ready to puke when you're done, you might as well have done nothing at all.
I do think that having some more vigorous efforts thrown into the mix is beneficial from a health and fitness standpoint...but IMO, unless you're specifically training for something, an overall active lifestyle is where it's at. And if you are training specifically for something, I would also think one would know how to train and would know that every training bout shouldn't be some crazy workout.
Most of the very fit and healthy people I know do "workout" some...but by and large, they are just active and enjoy being out on their bikes or hiking or rock climbing, kayaking, walking, going for a jog, etc.
This is so true. All of it.
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Also that losing weight and being healthy are the same thing. This drives me insane.5
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Protein is the only nutrient a person should pay attention to.
Protein quality (in terms of essential amino acid composition) is unimportant.
There's no need to pay attention to protein quantity when eating WFPB, because plants are just *that* healthful.7 -
Protein is the only nutrient a person should pay attention to.
Protein quality (in terms of essential amino acid composition) is unimportant.
There's no need to pay attention to protein quantity when eating WFPB, because plants are just *that* healthful.
Yes, the whole "Have you ever heard of someone being hospitalized for protein deficiency? If you eat enough, you'll automatically get enough protein" argument drives me up the wall.
There's a whole range of outcomes between "thriving" and "hospitalized for deficiency" that the argument ignores. You can absolutely be missing out on stuff and still never get to the level where you require hospital care.2 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Protein is the only nutrient a person should pay attention to.
Protein quality (in terms of essential amino acid composition) is unimportant.
There's no need to pay attention to protein quantity when eating WFPB, because plants are just *that* healthful.
Yes, the whole "Have you ever heard of someone being hospitalized for protein deficiency? If you eat enough, you'll automatically get enough protein" argument drives me up the wall.
There's a whole range of outcomes between "thriving" and "hospitalized for deficiency" that the argument ignores. You can absolutely be missing out on stuff and still never get to the level where you require hospital care.
Absolutely. When I first joined MFP and began logging to track sodium, I was a bit alarmed to see I was only consuming an average of 20 g protein a day. Although technically pescetarian, I lean heavily vegetarian when I cook for myself, fish and seafood was mainly confined to meals eaten out. I'd eaten high carb and low protein for decades at that point, you can imagine how little muscle I was carrying!3 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Protein is the only nutrient a person should pay attention to.
Protein quality (in terms of essential amino acid composition) is unimportant.
There's no need to pay attention to protein quantity when eating WFPB, because plants are just *that* healthful.
Yes, the whole "Have you ever heard of someone being hospitalized for protein deficiency? If you eat enough, you'll automatically get enough protein" argument drives me up the wall.
There's a whole range of outcomes between "thriving" and "hospitalized for deficiency" that the argument ignores. You can absolutely be missing out on stuff and still never get to the level where you require hospital care.
Absolutely. When I first joined MFP and began logging to track sodium, I was a bit alarmed to see I was only consuming an average of 20 g protein a day. Although technically pescetarian, I lean heavily vegetarian when I cook for myself, fish and seafood was mainly confined to meals eaten out. I'd eaten high carb and low protein for decades at that point, you can imagine how little muscle I was carrying!
Yeah, that was one of the first trends I noticed when I started logging. When I ate more overall (AKA, enough to be overweight), I didn't really have a problem getting enough protein . . . because I was eating a lot of everything. But once I cut calories, I absolutely had to learn how to eat in a way that made sure I was getting enough.4 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Protein is the only nutrient a person should pay attention to.
Protein quality (in terms of essential amino acid composition) is unimportant.
There's no need to pay attention to protein quantity when eating WFPB, because plants are just *that* healthful.
Yes, the whole "Have you ever heard of someone being hospitalized for protein deficiency? If you eat enough, you'll automatically get enough protein" argument drives me up the wall.
There's a whole range of outcomes between "thriving" and "hospitalized for deficiency" that the argument ignores. You can absolutely be missing out on stuff and still never get to the level where you require hospital care.
Absolutely. When I first joined MFP and began logging to track sodium, I was a bit alarmed to see I was only consuming an average of 20 g protein a day. Although technically pescetarian, I lean heavily vegetarian when I cook for myself, fish and seafood was mainly confined to meals eaten out. I'd eaten high carb and low protein for decades at that point, you can imagine how little muscle I was carrying!
Yep, this is the big thing I started to track FOR, which led to weight loss eventually. But first it was 'holy crap I am eating 12-20 grams of protein on the regular'.
Got enough protein and, amazingly, I stopped being sick all the time, needing naps, and no longer had minor scrapes and cuts take months to heal.
...after that I cared about weight loss, but initially holy crap I needed some help.5
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