If you’re interested in fitness, chances are you’re inundated with new ideas on a near daily basis. There’s a lot of money to be made in the exercise industry, by people promoting workout routines, exercise equipment, supplements, and even nutritional plans. Sometimes it can be a little bit difficult to sift through it all and decide what will actually work best for you. We have a few tips in that regard.
Workout Plans – If There’s No Trial, Skip It
We’ve already commented on money in fitness, but let’s emphasize it again: there’s a ton of money in teaching people how to work out, lose weight, and improve their health. And there’s nothing wrong with this, but it does make it necessary to be careful about what workouts you opt for if you’re paying for a program (be it through an online subscription, a DVD package, or even personal training sessions). The rule of thumb here is simple: if there’s no trial period, skip it. A trainer trying to get you to pay without sampling the process is likelier to be prioritizing money over results.
The differences are easy to spot. A popular program like Daily Burn online will often offer a 30-day trial in which you can sample all kinds of different digital trainers and workout routines. But some similar programs might not offer the same promotions, and a lot of in-person trainers will tell you they need fees even for individual trial sessions.
Supplements – Read The Literature
If you see a website selling various workout supplements, or even a counter full of pill and powder bottles at your gym, you might be tempted by catchy names and bold, advertised promises. A little sticker promising a given amount of protein or preaching an ability to help you build muscle or drop fat can definitely catch your eye. And in some cases the supplements do exactly what they propose to do, provided you use them correctly.
But generally speaking, it’s a good idea to try to find reviews of supplements you’re considering using, and read more deeply into what they do and how they work. There are plenty of pills and powders out there that, even if legal and safe, won’t necessarily help you get the results you’re looking for. Finding the right ones is a simple matter of doing research. You may also want to consult a trainer or an experienced friend along the way also.
Exercise Machines – Pay Attention To The Marketing
Exercise machines are advertised quite frequently online and on television, and they almost always seem intriguing. The standard formula is pretty simple: an incredibly fit individual uses the machine while a voiceover discusses how the machine makes it easier and faster to burn calories and/or build muscle. Who wouldn’t want such a machine?
If you’re actually looking to buy such a machine, however, it’s a good idea to be aware of the marketing tactics that companies are employing in these advertisements. There’s an idea called “direct response” marketing whereby the idea is to identify a consumer problem and propose a solution, and that’s usually what’s going on here: companies subtly identify the problem of not having enough time to do a more thorough workout, and then present their new machines as fixes. That’s fine, and sometimes the machines really can help you get an efficient workout. But keep in mind that dropping weight and adding muscle takes time and dedication even in the most efficient circumstances. Instead of focusing on time, try to find a machine that you’ll be comfortable working out on.
The fitness world can be a dizzying one to navigate. But by keeping these things in mind you should be able to focus on figuring out the best routine for yourself even with advice coming at you from all directions.