Many clients say to me when they first start at B-Fit: “I just don’t understand why I struggle with my weight, when I eat quite healthily and I exercise!”
But often what people think is healthy or good for them can be bad for them, and even have a detrimental effect on their health.
Here are five of the main culprits that you may think are healthy, but could actually be doing you harm!
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Fat free foods will make you fatter!
You may think that eating low-fat or fat-free foods is healthy, but you could be doing more harm than good.
Low fat, low-calorie and fat-free products are usually very processed, and are full of synthetic additives that only serve to enhance the flavour and compensate for the fat having been removed, and also to extend the product’s shelf life. They have no nutritional value whatsoever.
Furthermore, these excessive additives and toxins will be stored in fat cells as the body’s way of protecting us against the toxins. So in the long run, fat-free foods will make us fatter!
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You don’t need to cover up from the sun all the time!
Okay, we all know the dangers of repeated or prolonged sun exposure. Skin cancer is a very real threat, and premature ageing is easily avoided by covering up. You wouldn’t spend a day on the beach without your Factor 30 sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses and parasol!
But did you know that your body actually needs sunshine to produce vitamin D? Without it, you can develop depression, joint pains, fatigue and gastrointestinal problems. Vitamin D is also vital for a healthy immune system so make sure you 15 minutes of exposure to sunlight each day.
So allow yourself and your children 15 minutes of sunshine a day without sun cream, it will do you the world of good!
It can often be difficult to get out in the sunshine every day due to work or family commitments and our wonderful unpredictable British weather, so if if this is the case then consider taking a good quality Vitamin D supplement . Click HERE for the one I use and recommend.
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Salt in the diet is a good thing!
Salt has always been given bad press. We’ve been lead to believe that oo much salt will give you heart disease and send your blood pressure through the roof.
However, this is not always the case. A meta-analysis of over 6,250 patients found there was no actual link between salt intake, high blood pressure and risk of heart disease. The truth is we need salt BUT it’s important to differentiate between a natural salt and table salt !
Table salt is mostly sodium chloride and heavily processed. Natural salts come in their complete, whole form. Examples of natural salts are sea salt, celtic salt and pink himalayan rock salt. Always choose a natural salt, and try to avoid the processed table salt variety.
When you cut salt out, you’re actually cutting out something rich in minerals and electrolytes that help support optimal health. According to many health experts, adding a sprinkle of high-quality sea salts such as Himalayan or Celtic sea salt to your food will help give your mineral intake a gentle boost.
If you don’t get enough salt, it can cause problems with your body and health. Here are a few signs of salt deficiency from salt restriction:
- Reduced hydration, especially in athletes
- Muscle cramps
- Higher risk of heart attack
- Headaches
- Weakness
- Cognitive decline in elderly
- Irritability
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Doing cardio exercise alone won’t shift the pounds!
The best way to lose weight and burn fat is to combing cardio exercise like running, with resistance training. Doing cardio exercise alone will burn fat, but you will also burn valuable muscle tissue, which will reduce your metabolic rate.
So add in some resistance training to your exercise routine for lasting changes. You won’t look like a body builder, just slim, streamlined and perfectly toned! For optimum benefits you need to be active most days, with at least 2-3 resistance/metabolic conditioning training sessions a week. This will give you a perfectly balanced fitness regime! At B-Fit , we have exercise courses to suit everyone , from online options to one to one tailor made courses, adhering to social distancing regulations. Click HERE to contact me for a FREE confidential chat and for more details
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Having a lie in is better than hitting the gym!
Honestly, this is true! Sleep is crucial for your physical and emotional health. It helps your brain function better, reduces your risk of chronic disease and boosts your immune system. A lack of sleep can cause increased levels of cortisol – a stress hormone that will make you store fat if its too high!
Just to be clear, I’m not saying skip exercise However, if the only time you can fit in a session is early in the morning, then you will need to adjust your bedtime schedule, get to bed earlier and make sure you’re getting enough sleep so you don’t elevate your cortisol levels.
At the end of the day, it is easy to get caught up with what you feel you ‘should’ be doing, and what others may push or mislead you to do. But in the end it comes down to doing the things that make you feel amazing, deep down to your core.
These things are individual, and can be anything from walking to work, enjoying a green smoothie, helping others, reaching new personal bests with your fitness, or cooking delicious, healthy meals for yourself and your family. Those are the health habits that give you long-lasting radiant health and help you find true happiness.
