How To Avoid Fitness Platitudes and Still Succeed

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There are many fitness platitudes out there. When you’re busy in your daily life, be that running a family, working a job or running a business, it’s not hard to try and follow the path of least resistance. And sometimes, this works just fine.

For instance, anyone who goes for a nice, thirty-minute morning walk with their dog is hardly doing their health a disservice.

That being said, it’s also true that if you hope to follow a more complex plan than this, you may find yourself being pulled in multiple directions.

There/’s a whole industry out there designed to try and convince you to follow their direction, no matter if you want to try yoga, begin weightlifting, or just perform regular cardio as you lose weight.

So, how can you avoid these platitudes and still succeed? Let’s consider that, below:

Use The Best-Rated Learning Resources

It’s fine to stick to something that works, is to learn from people who’ve done it properly.

You don’t need a PhD in sports science to start moving, of course, but having good info to fall back on helps when you’re trying to make consistent progress.

For example, if you’re getting into weight training, a basic beginner program like Starting Strength or StrongLifts has been around for years, and for good reason, as they keep things simple and progressive.

The Starting Strength manual is considered a fantastic starting place for many, especially for building beginner strength.  If you prefer yoga, apps like Down Dog can help. Couch 2 5k is a good program for beginner runners.

You really don’t have to get more complex than this, and it helps you avoid the grifters trying to sell their routines.

The simple thing is to find people or platforms with a solid reputation and feedback from users who aren’t being paid to leave five stars. Reddit communities, Trustpilot, or good old-fashioned word-of-mouth can help here.

Opt For Simple Supplements

The supplement industry is massive and very keen to have you buy something. Between protein powders, creatine, BCAAs, pre-workouts, and fat burners, it’s easy to feel like you’re supposed to be building a chemistry set instead of trying to feel better in your body.

Really, most people don’t need much beyond the basics. A decent egg protein supplement can help for weightlifters trying to eat the recommended gram of protein per pound of bodyweight, and creatine has been researched to death and is safe for most people. Outside of that, unless your doctor recommends something specific, you’re probably fine without the extras.

Just remember that if the label is promising you magical results in two weeks, that’s a red flag.

Wear Basic, Simple Clothes & Supportive Footwear

It’s very, exceedingly easy to spend money on a fancy matching workout set when you start something new, especially if you’re excited about your lifestyle change. That’s fine if you enjoy it, of course, it’s not as if these products are a scam, but you don’t need to dress like a fitness influencer to get started.

There are a couple of good investments that make sense, for instance, if you’re running, make sure those shoes are designed for it. If you’re lifting, something flat-soled is ideal. Everything else is optional for the most part. If you can sweat in it without worry, that’s usually the best criteria.

Don’t Rush Your Goals

This is where people tend to get frustrated and feel like they should be spending more money or connecting with plans designed to offer quick results. If you start training, clean up your eating a little, and expect visible results by the end of the week, you’re going to be disappointed. 

Sure, maybe, if you’re brand new to everything, you’ll see small changes early on. But long-term progress takes time.

After all, your body doesn’t work on a strict deadline. Some weeks you’ll feel great, others you’ll wonder what’s even happening. That’s normal. It doesn’t mean what you’re doing isn’t working; it just means you’re human and you’re adapting to a new normal.

You didn’t get out of shape in a week, so it takes more. But you will notice many slight improvements, and that can be a wonderful confirmation of your progress. Just don’t let anyone tell you more money will help.

With this advice, we hope you can more easily avoid fitness platitudes and still succeed on your own terms!