When it comes to fitness and health, everyone seems to have fitness advice. But just as you wouldn’t get electrical repair advice from a lawyer or your hairdresser, it’s crucial to be selective about where you get your fitness advice.
Our latest article explains why listening to unqualified, and yes sometimes unsolicited, advice can be more harmful than helpful and how turning to professionals can give you a big head start on your health and fitness journey.
The Pitfalls of Misguided Advice
It’s easy to fall into the trap of listening to well-meaning friends or family about fitness. Perhaps your hairdresser suggests that lifting weights will make you look “bulky” or a coworker shares the latest fad diet. These are both things I have heard from multiple people, multiple times. I get it – you are nervous and scared about starting something new.
You want to take just a few steps to reach the top of the mountain – but that’s not how life works. You can’t skip steps and change tactics every time someone has you moving in a different direction because you’ve listened to their latest gossip about health and fitness.
While their advice is often well-intentioned, that doesn’t mean it’s based on the scientific understanding of health and fitness. Just as you wouldn’t expect a lawyer to know how to fix your home’s wiring, fitness advice should come from those trained to understand the complexities of the human body.
The Dangers of One-Size-Fits-All Solutions
When someone gives you advice on what worked for them, it doesn’t mean it will work for you.
When someone gives you advice on what didn’t work for them, you really don’t have all the details, and they are not you.
What did they try, for how long, how consistent were they, who did they get THEIR advice from, etc.
This approach of listening to unqualified advice can lead to frustration and stagnation because it overlooks your individual needs, goals, and the scientific principles that guide a training and nutrition plan built for you.
And it also makes YOU feel silly for not knowing these things already. Why should you? It’s not your speciality, and it isn’t your hairdressers specialty either.
How the Personal Trainers and Nutrition Coaches at NHF Can Help
At Northglenn Health and Fitness our personal trainers and nutrition coaches are not doing this as a hobby. These professionals have dedicated their careers to studying and understanding the intricacies of body mechanics, nutrition, and the psychological aspects of fitness and nutrition change. They are equipped with both the education and the practical experience needed to help you craft a plan that aligns with your specific goals and physical condition.
The key is, you have to put your blinders on and just do it.
And keep doing it.
Imagine you’re trying to fix a leak in your home plumbing. You wouldn’t ask your barista how to handle it unless they were also a trained plumber. In the same way, while your hairdresser or brother might have opinions on body aesthetics, they likely lack the detailed knowledge required to give sound fitness advice.
And you wouldn’t feel shame about it either! There is nothing wrong with asking for help, you just have to ask the right people.
Taking Action – That’s Good Advice from Anyone about Anything
Instead of cycling through the same old patterns that lead to quitting, frustration, and lack of progress, choose to invest in professional advice. Our personal trainers and nutrition coaches can provide actionable steps that directly contribute to achieving your fitness goals.
They’ll help you understand how muscle mass works in conjunction with body fat, debunk myths about weightlifting, and guide you towards sustainable, healthy habits.
That is, if you are ready to hear the facts AND ready to change.
What to do next time your are given unsolicited fitness advice?
Next time someone offers unsolicited fitness advice, take it with a grain of salt. Say thanks, but remember to prioritize advice from those who are qualified.
This doesn’t just apply to fitness; it’s a good rule of thumb for any advice that impacts your health. At Northglenn Health and Fitness, we’re not just about giving you access to equipment—we provide the coaching and steps to ensure you’re on the right path to YOUR health and fitness.
Ready to get started with us on your health and fitness journey? Having a coach can take away the confusion and SPEED up your results!
Click here to book a 10 minute phone call with Coach Jennifer to get started!