FITNESS MYTHS and EXCUSES YOU CAN'T STAND!!!
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Brittaney,
While I too share your exasperation with people who opt to not be fit and then complain about it. Please be careful how you throw around comments about pain. I do not do squats or lunges because I've had reconstructive surgery on my knee 4 times and the pain is excruciating. I work on exercises to continue to gain muscle strength, but your comment was hurtful. In this community I think we all need to try to stay a little more judgement free.
At least someone else spotted this extremely insulting comment also. OP should really think before assuming everyone has the same capabilities as somebody else.
I don't do squats YET, because I have arthritis in my knees and with as much weight as I have on me, it is excruciating... and YES, it even hurts to bed to sit on a chair or the toilet. Once I have more weight off, maybe there will be less stress on my knees and I will be able to do squats easier.
Do not judge ALL people just because YOU find something easy or pain free. I work my *kitten* off in the gym 5-6 days a week and I am doing my best to get into a better place in my life, but it's people who are going to be judgmental that make others want to throw their hands up and quit. I don't want to be in the gym (or anywhere else) thinking that people are judging me for what I am and am not doing.
The only excuses that should bother you are your own. Worry about you, not everyone else around you. It should matter to you what other people are doing if it isn't directly affecting your progress. Learn to bite your tongue and shut your mouth.0 -
This.I can't stand "muscle weighs more than fat" Drives me nuts. 1 pound = 1 pound regardless of what it is made of. Muscle is denser than fat so 1 pound of muscle takes up less space than 1 pound of fat!
Biggest pet peeve in excuses? "I'm scared" WTF is there to be scared of? Being fit, being thin, living longer?
But muscle does weigh more than fat. If you took the same volume of each, muscle would weigh more.0 -
"I hate eating vegetables/I'm a super picky eater"
Really? I hate paying my bills, yet I still do it, because I am an adult, not a 5 year old
I love this! "Wah. Healthy food is grrroooooosssss and bacon cheeseburgers are so delicious!" You know what is else is delicious? Cocaine (probably), but we don't do that because it's poison.
My other favorite: "I need to lose weight before I can start going to the gym." Because there are no overweight people at the gym. OK.0 -
I just did a Sociology paper on low income and health. One of the things I focused on was healthy food. It is more expensive than "crappy" food. Especially if you live in a low income area where the grocery store has high costs than Smith's or another main grocery store. I have been there. I have bought a complete meal in a box for $2.00. That I could eat for a few days. I really think that starts with changing the way people have access to healthy foods. Also a gym membership is expensive, but outside is free. When I started running I could not afford even new shoes (I know I could have hurt myself, but I was already hurting myself being so overweight) so I used these old pair of tennis shoes. They were not very good, but my grandma was nice enough to buy me a new pair of running shoes for Christmas:) Also the time thing does kinda of drive me crazy while I understand it, it is hard for me to be sympathetic. I work 2 jobs. But I live 60 miles from both places of work. So I have over an hour commute in the morning and in the evening. It is about 2 hours and 15 mins just in a car. I do all my things in town during my lunch hour (if I dont have anything I run if it is a short run day or I lift). I get off work I go for a run, I drive home and I ride my 2 horses. Than I eat. Than I go to bed. I don't have kids so I can't speak to that, but I think a majority of people have time, just dont want to make it a priority and I understand that I was that way too.0
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Best one yet I've heard:
I didn't work out because there was no parking space.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
hahah yep, i watch people drive around and around the parking lot until they get a closer one sometimes, hilarious0 -
Honestly I get the time and money arguments. The timing isn't always right to make a huge lifestyle change (whether it be fitness, moving, job related, etc). It really only bothers me when I KNOW the person does have both time and money, e.g. they're complaining about their weight 2 hours into happy hour. But really it comes down to this: you can have excuses or you can have results; not both.0
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On a lighter note, I am going to lose my damn mind about the muscle vs fat thing. It seems PERFECTLY clear to me whenever anyone says "muscle weighs more than fat" that they are talking about volume. Unless you are intentionally reading it wrong, it's obvious when someone says this they mean that muscle is denser, so a pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat. I SERIOUSLY do not understand why people insist on assuming that people making that statement are ACTUALLY SAYING that if you put a pound of muscle and a pound of fat on a scale you'd get different readings when that has NEVER been the case anywhere in the history of weight loss forums, as far as I can tell.
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THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I kept thinking this but was too lazy to write it. Whenever someone says "muscle weighs more than fat" I simply assume a parenthetical "for the same volume" instead of assuming that they don't know that 1=1.0 -
if I do not eat six small meals a day I will go into starvation mode...
I am converting fat into muscle....
I want to scream when I hear those two....
I used a barn analogy the other day to explain about metabolic slow down: Muscle is like horses. They do the work on the farm. Fat is like bags of grain. They feed the horses. If you reduce the amount of food coming in to your body without using the muscles, your body is going to take out some of the muscle so that it can safeguard its stored food. Sort of like having fewer horses eating those sacks of grain.
I know that's a huge oversimplification, but it provided an initial basic understanding of how things work.
meal timing has nothing to do with metabolism...how is that for simple?0 -
cant work out for the rest of the week. the president from scandal has me so upset.0
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And if you don't think you use it in everyday life, i'd like to know how you get on and off the toilet. :huh:
a system of ropes and pulleys?
The first thing I pictured was the episode of Family Guy when Peter asks to use Joe's bathroom :laugh:
I get annoyed when I hear people say they're on birth control and they can't lose. I used to think that too but I know (and knew it at the time as well) that was just an excuse. I'm still on birth control and I've still lost 37 pounds. For some people if they have a bad reaction to it, perhaps it's the case but if you put your mind to it, workout, watch what you eat, you'll lose weight.
this
a good deal of the female population of child bearing age in North america is on some form of birth control.0 -
I can't stand "muscle weighs more than fat" Drives me nuts. 1 pound = 1 pound regardless of what it is made of. Muscle is denser than fat so 1 pound of muscle takes up less space than 1 pound of fat!
Biggest pet peeve in excuses? "I'm scared" WTF is there to be scared of? Being fit, being thin, living longer?
Pretty much anyone who says this is referring to the density of 1Lb of fat vs 1 Lb of muscle and muscle displacing fat by volume...I don't know anybody who actually believes 1 Lb of muscle actually weighs more than 1 Lb of fat. Do you really think there are all kinds of people thinking that 1 Lb isn't a 1 Lb?
At anyrate...I don't have time to exercise is the one excuse I can't stand, namely because I used to use it all of the time.
Also, some people do have bad knees and shouldn't squat...not a myth.
Yes there are people that don't get that 1 lb = 1 lb. I had this argument at work last week. Geez0 -
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On a lighter note, I am going to lose my damn mind about the muscle vs fat thing. It seems PERFECTLY clear to me whenever anyone says "muscle weighs more than fat" that they are talking about volume. Unless you are intentionally reading it wrong, it's obvious when someone says this they mean that muscle is denser, so a pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat. I SERIOUSLY do not understand why people insist on assuming that people making that statement are ACTUALLY SAYING that if you put a pound of muscle and a pound of fat on a scale you'd get different readings when that has NEVER been the case anywhere in the history of weight loss forums, as far as I can tell.
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THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I kept thinking this but was too lazy to write it. Whenever someone says "muscle weighs more than fat" I simply assume a parenthetical "for the same volume" instead of assuming that they don't know that 1=1.
Believe it or not I had to explain this too someone- actually a group of women last week at work. They didn't understand. When they finally got it- the light bulb went off....they at least started laughing.0 -
I exercise - alone and in a class - and believe me when I tell you there are LOTS of exercises I flat out cannot due because of my stupid knees! I usually jog or walk in place while they are counting those out so I can keep moving - but believe me doing those squats will do a lot more damage than good for me in my situation. It isn't an excuse - it is a reality. Don't judge.
As for most of the other reasons people give for not exercising overall - everyone is right - there is always time and there is always a way. I started out with chair exercises until I could work up to my current routine.0 -
Excuse: I can't go to the gym because people at the gym are mean and judgy! They will say mean things to me and look at me and stuff.
Ok...*rolls eyes* Have been to many gyms and although I am less of a Fatty McFatperson today, I'm still a great big fat girl, and I have never once had anybody say anything to me. I'd complain if it happened. Grow some and stand up for yourselves.
And I am a special snowflake with a serious congenital deformity but geez people, find a way to work around it. Ask questions, get other advice, find something that works for you and accept that you are just the one snowflake, so all the advice you see for the other snowflakes doesn't apply. Don't use the excuse that not being able to do SOMETHING means you can't do ANYTHING. I hate hearing how mean and judgemental people are because they give advice you don't like. It's worth what you paid for it.
The myths that set me off are all about food, specifically beliefs that certain foods/food types/food additives are making you fat. Um, no? Stuffing food in your mouth is making you fat. Do less of that, or chose foods that allow you to stuff the same amount in without the same amount of calories. Whether those calories are GMO or wheat or sugar or aspartame ridden (or not) or anything else makes no difference. If it makes a difference to YOU, you're a special snowflake. See above.
The time excuse gets me, too. I work full time, I'm a mature aged law student, have six pets that need my attention, a 17 year old that needs my attention, and my husband is gone for work for weeks at a time. I'm up at 5am doing what I gotta do. If you can't find a half an hour four or five times a week, then you are indeed a special snowflake, see above..0 -
The best exercises that you can do to pull your shoulders back are horizontal pulling exercises, where you try to pinch your shoulder blades together under load. Dumbbell rows, inverted rows, bent over barbell rows, etc... Wall slides are a common exercise for that, but their impact is a drop in the bucket compared to horizontal pulling. Start horizontal pulling and you'll see a ton of rapid progress in your ability to do wall slides.
Pushups plus is the de facto winged scapula fix, here is a great link about doing them:
http://nicktumminello.com/2010/01/push-up-plus-exercise-a-better-way/
Stretching your chest muscles with a doorway is a good way to loosen them if you don't have a roller.
Thanks for the link, once I get my kid in bed I'll take a look.
I do the shoulder pinch thing (but not with weight, I wouldn't know how to add weight into that), I also have a resistance band (red) that I use to pull out with my arms straight out in front of me per a physical therapist's recommendation. I do rows with the seated weight machine (the one where you face the weights and pull the handles back all giggity giggity-like if you know what I mean) I make sure to pull back as far as I can, and try to hold while pinching my shoulder blades when it's back, I can only do about 60 pounds on that one though, any more and I can't get through my reps without compromising my form and engaging other muscles to assist. I also do the knee and hand on bench with barbell (10lb) in hand off the edge of the bench pulling up thing. The only row I know is with the rowing machine (the real one) and also the pull/rowing weight machine. Unfortunately, the gym I go to doesn't have a real rowing machine, they have about every piece of weight lifting equipment imaginable though, I just need to learn to use it all.0 -
Ok the thing that drives me nuts..."Well who wants to live to be 90, and be in a nursing home? I would rather eat what I want, do what I want, and die young!" IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR 90 YEAR OLD SELF. IT'S ABOUT YOU, TODAY! DON'T YOU WANT TO FEEL BETTER, LOOK BETTER, LOVE LIFE, TODAY?!?! I sure do!!!!!
And if you live a healthy lifestyle, 90 will see you chilling on a beach somewhere, still enjoying and and maybe chasing your grand-kids around.
It's not about you at all! Lose for yourself but think about those around you. The people who will be taking care of the 90 yr old you or the 60 year old you who wasn't healthy! My dad died in November at 72. Before he died, we spent years battling knee problems. (He didn't squat, I suppose! :happy: ) Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney failure. My mom, also a diabetic and with COPD, struggled to keep him home. My sisters and I did all we could but have families too. It was much harder than it had to be if he had been healthier! That is what restarted me on this journey and 1 of my sisters as well. I don't want to do that to my kids. And I sure as hell don't want THEM picking my nursing home!!
Instead, I am choosing to get healthy and be that spry 90 year old lady who can get away with saying ANYTHING!! 
Added benefit - much better role model for my children to follow.
Well this is all true too. My bro-in-law kept saying he didn't want to live to be 90 etc. etc. and we kept telling him Think of your kids and grandkids! They want to have you around! (VERY loving and close-knit family) Well guess what. He's gone, had a heart attack while driving and slammed into a concrete truck. A year later and the whole family is still grieving. Greg is you had ONLY taken better care of yourself you would still be here with us!!!!0 -
Not exactly myths but the guys and gals who try so hard to go against the extremism/myths in the fitness industry (6-8 meals a day, "clean eating") that they end up becoming extremists themselves (the other extreme, 1 meal a day of just brownies and poptarts because calories in < calories out). Hope that made sense.
Edit: Also people misinterpreting "NOT AS IMPORTANT AS" with "NOT IMPORTANT AT ALL" (ex. meal timing).0 -
99.99% of the crap floating around this website and being touted as fact. And anything that comes out of the mouth of dr. oz.0
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the money one i get, and yet... i still oppose it.
Yes a gym membership is expensive.
Yes healthy food costs more versus quick crap food.
But... fast food lasts you one "meal"... you can cook a weeks worth of meals, and at the end of the week, it'll probably be less than what you spend if you eat out every lunch and every other dinner. Not to mention, your body will be thanking you!!
it's an investment in your health. I'd rather spend the extra money on good groceries, than spend the money on medical bills for my diabetus, high cholesterol pills, heart medication, etc... somewhere down the road.
So far, my $45/mo gym membership has helped me eliminate the need for about $80/mo of prescription drugs.
Congratulations!
that's fantastic!!!0 -
When people eat processed sugary junk and their excuse is "I need the sugar", ipjewfdalojwlfjlwjhlwdclwdjciq NO.
Sugar is not junk. There's your first mistake.
note that they said "processed" sugar...0 -
You gotta die of something? Dang, that's my answer to anyone who is asking, " Are you suppose to be eating that?" Guess I gotta come up with a new response. LOL0
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Myth: You are not a individual (special snowflake) with different medical requirements.
I believe you are. If your not a special snowflake how do you explain that God made you special or that your finger prints are different than everyone else in the world? The base formula is the same across the board (food Vs.Activity Vs. Sleep).
Yep, when people say I'm not a special snowflake I say, yes YES I am, because my body does not work the same way yours does no matter what is SUPPOSED to happen. If our bodies were all working the same we'd all be fat or we'd all be skinny or we'd all have cancer, or no one would have cancer.
What?!?? :huh:0 -
ETA: Um....a pound = a pound. The amount it takes to make the pound is irrelevant
I really hope your are just joking. If you are being serious then I have to tell you that this is one of the most idiotic things I have ever heard. Weight is a function of density. Would you say that gold weighs more than feathers? 1 pound of gold = 1 pound of feathers correct? So why then do we say that gold weighs more than feathers? For the same reason that muscle weighs more than fat. It takes less fat to equal 1 pound then it does fat just like it takes less gold to get to one pound then it does feathers. By your logic everything weighs the same because 1 pound of X will weigh the same as 1 pound of Y.
Not when you're talking body image. If a lb of Fat took up 20 sq inches and a lb of muscle took up 8 sq inches. What would you rather have on your body?
I was responding to "By your logic everything weighs the same because 1 pound of X will weigh the same as 1 pound of Y."
A pound weighs a pound. 500 pounds weighs 500 pounds.
The amount of space they take up is density, not weight.
Using your skewed logic, every person of the same size would weigh the same because a 1 lb - 1lb.
And yet they don't. *boom* Mind blown.0 -
Fitness myth:
You can't possibly reach your fitness goals unless you do squats!0 -
Myth:
Running is horrible for you! It destroys your knees and ankles!
Really?! Because sitting your butt, not moving at all, is SOOOO much healthier!!!
:rolls eyes:0 -
Pretty much any excuses, but especially "I don't have time." No, you don't make time. And that's fine if you have other priorities, but dag, own your choice.
Yes yes yes well said!0 -
It must be water weight, or you probably gained muscle, if someone has put on a pound or two in a week ... Just because you eat under calories, if you eat 6 helpings of chicken nuggest, its not gonna do you a damn bit of good ... and walking on the elptical 3 times a week for 10 minutes is not going to make you gain muscle, im sorry sometimes you just need to give yourself and internal check and realize, I didnt watch my diet, i ate like crap and now i have to pay for it.0
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My mother and my aunt have both told me that it is impossible for women in "this family" to lose weight and that I could try for years and never lose my pregnancy weight. :huh:
I turned and proved them wrong. Pre-pregnancy weight was 196lbs (a fact I am not proud of), had my son Dec 2011 with a postpartum weight of 260lbs and by July 2012 I was 196lbs. I've gain a little back since then (about 20lbs), but I plan to get that off too and get back down to the weight I looked the best. :laugh: I will not let their excuses crush my spirit.0 -
And the other excuse that really bothers me is "I just don't like water so I can't drink it."
Admittedly, I used this excuse for years. If I want to drink something, I want it to taste like something. So, I drank Pepsi instead....and ZERO water. In the 6 months I've been on MFP, I've had maybe 5 Pepsi's and I drink water now everyday. Granted, I use the MIO stuff to make it taste like something but still....it's better than Pepsi!0 -
I can't stand "muscle weighs more than fat" Drives me nuts. 1 pound = 1 pound regardless of what it is made of. Muscle is denser than fat so 1 pound of muscle takes up less space than 1 pound of fat!
^^ OMG THIS RIGHT HERE IS MY ALL TIME #1 PET PEEVE!!0
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