I see it too many times
People are chasing the wrong thing.
They chase workouts that “burn a lot of calories.” They monitor their watch or other device for the “burned” calories to add up.
On the one hand, I can find appreciation for it if it helps the person to be motivated to move daily and find enjoyment in being active. Even I get a kick out of looking back at my watch after a training run or a race to see how many calories my watch says I burned.
However, here is a little bit of the tough love truth: just because a workout burns a lot of calories in the moment, doesn’t mean it’s an effective workout.
What does deem an effective workout? One that helps you accomplish your desired goals.
One can be moving for an hour or more, break into a good sweat, and yet it can mean that you are no closer to your desired goal.
For example, one can desired toned, defined arms, but if one is not lifting weights to build the muscle underneath, while also focusing on nutrition and other activity to support fat loss, that intense calorie burning workout may not help them achieve their goal.
For some, they may be looking for a rounder, perkier butt. You likely won’t see that on someone who has slaved away on a treadmill or other piece of cardio equipment. That comes from doing squats and other challenging squat and glute work along with eating sufficiently to support muscle growth.
For others, the goal may be a flatter stomach. One can do all the “calorie burning” workouts they like, but if they aren’t dialing in their nutrition along with that, they are still likely to be longing to achieve their goal.
There is nothing wrong with the goals I have mentioned. I just hate to see people chase after them in the wrong way, because here’s what happens: they get frustrated after they feel they have worked so hard (which is likely true), yet they are no closer to where they want to be. Then they either 1) continue to “work harder” (i.e. try to focus on burning even more calories) or 2) quit altogether and believe there is just no hope for them.
I just don’t want to see that for folks.
So what does work?
A program that balances what you need to accomplish a goal while also including an element of fun to keep you engaged.
It also focuses on what matters.
We help people do just that. We learn about your goals, design your program accordingly, and together, we get to work.
Does this mean that we can’t include a “banger” of a workout from time-to-time where we work out for an extended period of time, breathe heavy, and get in a good sweat. Absolutely not. Depending on who you are, you might find that fun! However, we would first prioritize what matters to get you closer to your particular goals.
Whether it be in our 1:1 personal training, our small group personal training (semi-private), or our remote coaching program, the individual is at the center of what we do.
If you’re ready to get off the “calories burned” train, call Coach Candice today at 570.715.4440 and let’s get you on the right track!
Sincerely,
Your friend in wellness and fitness,
Coach Candice