More isn’t better: better is better.
Exercise isn’t just about “more pain, more gain” or spending endless hours at the gym—it’s about getting the most out of your workouts. It’s about moving more, and moving better. Our goal is to help you make exercise and activity a part of your daily routine. For some that starts with 15 minutes of walking, for others it’s about easing into the program and discovering what they enjoy. Even setting aside 15 minutes a day to get your ass moving will go a long way to help. Getting lean and staying lean is not about suffering through workouts that leave you exhausted and miserable. It doesn’t have to be complicated and it doesn’t have to be expensive. You don’t even need a gym. We like to think of working out not as a duty or chore, but as an opportunity to participate in an activity you enjoy!
While some people enjoy spending hours on the elliptical, it’s a common misconception that doing large doses of cardio is the best way to lose weight. But—good news!— there are other ways to get fit. More calories are burned and more fat is lost when we do something our body is unused to, because our bodies must work harder at activities that don’t come naturally. An activity like jogging, for example, is very effective at first, because our bodies’ are not trained for it and thus are very inefficient. After the initial shock, however, the body becomes accustomed to the work, and the progress will screech to a halt. This means we have to continually increase our work rate in order to keep losing weight, and pretty soon it becomes more than we can handle. If we’re try new things consistently—jogging one day, kettlebell another—our body will constantly shed weight just to keep up!
Another misconception about exercise is that it always needs to leave you exhausted. Exercising should rarely be exhausting. The point of exercise is to give energy and help you feel better, not tear you down. We love to say, “Man, that workout kicked my ass!” But honestly, why would be that good? Pain and soreness are warning signs our body sends to us when something is wrong, not when it’s right. Being “workout sore” can sort of be a badge of honor at times—we get proud of it too, sometimes!—because it means we pushed ourselves and did something that we’ll see positive results from. If you’re always sore after working out, though, it’s not going to be beneficial for your body. Remember, though going balls-to-the-wall may help, it is impossible to outwork a bad diet. What we eat is as important as how we move. Check out our nutrition page for more information about how to add healthy nutrition choices to your life.
The truth is, fat loss can take as little as 15 minutes of focused exercise each day. When it comes to weight loss, more isn’t better: better is better. Five to seven hours a week will have an enormous effect on most people’s bodies. And that’s not even five to seven hours of killing yourself at the gym! Walking, yoga, biking, and casual sports all count. Even time taking the stairs instead of the elevator can have a huge impact!
Exercise is hard work, sure, but it’s consequences can be life-changing. It boosts your metabolism, makes you stronger and helps you move better. When it comes to exercise, the most important thing you can do is start. It doesn’t matter where: just start.