By: ᴢᴜɴᴢᴇɪʀʏ
Many believe that staying healthy is as simple as working out and eating well. But how do we eat well? How should we work out? I will say, I have had my personal troubles trying to figure out what to do. Should my calories be reduced or increased? Is weightlifting better than cardio?
A few months ago I came to the conclusion that I had no idea what any of this meant for me, so I did what everyone else does; I went online. “How to lose weight” was one of the top Google searches. Thousands of guides, ideas, diets, and fitness trainers popped up. The trainers were promoting fitness, weight loss, and healthy eating habits. Taking one look at them and their bodies, I thought, “well, I want to look that good. Why don’t I?”
Being an online fitness trainer is a job, so many successful trainers make their money through their own online programs or by simply advertising a product. But, should we trust them? Believing a fitness trainer is a personal choice. For some, their only goal is to make money, but that isn’t the case for everyone. Over the years, many have been exposed for false claims. Most people gravitate to fitness trainers for honesty, for trust, and knowing someone is by their side telling them, “you can do this.”
Personal fitness is not just about finding the right trainer, though. Just like fitness trainers' intentions, some of the diets they suggest are questionable. The most important thing to do as someone who is just starting out is a pros and cons list.
Having someone personally guide you through the beginning of a new journey is a major pro. A con? Their suggestions may not be right for you. That includes certain exercises, allergies to certain foods, etc.
Another pro is that you can get an idea of how successful a trainer is through their social media. Pictures and videos of their weight loss, diets, and exercises can give you a look into their programs. A con, though, is that trainers promote eating fewer calories than you should. Every human being should consume at least 2,000-3,000 calories a day. If someone is telling you to eat less, it’s probably not the best advice.
So should you trust a fitness trainer? I’m not sure. What I can promise you, though, is no amount you spend online talking to a trainer or dietician will help you love yourself the only way you can. We constantly see images of people with these perfect bodies and shiny skin. But who’s to say that living like them will make you happy? Find yourself and your path, and choose what’s best for your body. Do not listen to anyone who says eating one cheeseburger will ruin your whole life, because it won’t. We’re all the same; we want to be confident in our skin, in our bodies and we don’t always need someone else to guide us. In most cases, the people we need most are ourselves.
Don’t work out because you want that one guy to like you and don’t skip lunch because the girl sitting beside you isn’t eating either. Work out because you want to be healthy and happy, and you want to grow. Eat because you want to gain muscles and be confident in that top you bought from Forever 21. I’m no stranger to insecurity or dysmorphia; gaining and losing weight and finding parts of your body that aren’t your favorite brings you down, but don’t sulk and sigh. Take that certain part of you and you make it better. Always remember, no one can make you as happy as you can.