Stupidest health and fitness thing you've been told

Ouchette

I was looking around a gym a while ago and the instructor/sales person told me that swimming was useless as exercise because the water keeps you too cool to burn any calories. :eek::eek:

Any more good ones you've heard?

Stuff you read on the internet doesn't count Too easy!

didka

1. Diet Shakes are the only thing that works for me - I lost 4 stone 5 times with them!!! - girl that sales diet shakes - magicmum.com
(making the same mistake 5 times, how could you count it as working out for you?????) sorry, can't leave this out - people are still buying her shakes!!!
2. Women need to tone up - they don't need to build muscle (30 year old guy in my work re women fitness)
3. Women should not lift weights over 2lbs as they don't want muscle (50+ old man in my work, cardio freak aerobic classes few times weekly). No man want to see girl with biceps.
4. I don't care what's in diet coke and if it makes me hungry as long as it doesn't have calories - it's good for me 27 year old girl trying to lose weight for her wedding

deadlybuzzman

I hear new ones in holland and barrett both from staff and customers nearly everytime I go in

Compak

I always liked, 'when you stop training muscle turns to fat'

howtomake

didka wrote: »

2. Women need to tone up - they don't need to build muscle (30 year old guy in my work re women fitness)

My humble personal opinion, I am growing to really strongly dislike the term 'tone' :mad:.

Hanley

howtomake wrote: »

My humble personal opinion, I am growing to really strongly dislike the term 'tone' :mad:.

What's wrong with 'tone'? Everyone knows what someone means when they say it.

SanoVitae

Hanley wrote: »

What's wrong with 'tone'? Everyone knows what someone means when they say it.

I don't like the tone of this post.

didka

Hanley wrote: »

What's wrong with 'tone'? Everyone knows what someone means when they say it.

1. You can't "tone" muscle. You can build muscle. You can lose muscle. Or your muscle can stay the same.
2. You can't "tone" fat. You can gain fat. You can lose fat. But you can't "tone" it.

Thre is no really such thing as toning up your body, if you want to appear more toned - you want more muscle and/or less fat.

Hanley

didka wrote: »

1. You can't "tone" muscle. You can build muscle. You can lose muscle. Or your muscle can stay the same.
2. You can't "tone" fat. You can gain fat. You can lose fat. But you can't "tone" it.

Thre is no really such thing as toning up your body, if you want to appear more toned - you want more muscle and/or less fat.

<snip> Hanley, cut the attitude. It's really starting to grate on my nerves and you're doing nothing but alienating new posters. </snip>

flyswatter

That slow, long cardio with less heavy weights is productive. I use intervals by lifting the most I can carry. Around 3 x 8 reps. Take a breather and move onto the next exercise.

Also when someone mentioned in the media to refrain from eating after 6 o clock to lose weight. It works but it's not really healthy, for men anyway.

Hanley

didka wrote: »

1. You can't "tone" muscle. You can build muscle. You can lose muscle. Or your muscle can stay the same.
2. You can't "tone" fat. You can gain fat. You can lose fat. But you can't "tone" it.

Thre is no really such thing as toning up your body, if you want to appear more toned - you want more muscle and/or less fat.

I know EXACTLY what you can and can't do.

Everyone "knows" what it means when some talks about it. If someone wants to get 'toned' they want to lose body fat/build muscle.

So, as a term, if someone says, 'I want to get toned', what's wrong with that?

We know what it means. Unless we all want to be cool and sit here smugly hiding behind definitions and superior knowledge.

Hanley

flyswatter wrote: »

Also when someone mentioned in the media to refrain from eating after 6 o clock to lose weight. It works but it's not really healthy, for men anyway.

Is it healthier for women to do it?

didka

Hanley wrote: »

I know EXACTLY what you can and can't do.

Everyone "knows" what it means when some talks about it. If someone wants to get 'toned' they want to lose body fat/build muscle.

So, as a term, if someone says, 'I want to get toned', what's wrong with that?

We know what it means. Unless we all want to be cool and sit here smugly hiding behind definitions and superior knowledge.

I don't mind the term Hanley, in fact when 30 year old guy tells me a woman shouldn't build muscles, just tone - it's kind of entertaining.

I personaly wouldn't use this term, as it's doesn't mean much to me.

Mellor

didka wrote: »

I don't mind the term Hanley, in fact when 30 year old guy tells me a woman shouldn't build muscles, just tone - it's kind of entertaining.

I personaly wouldn't use this term, as it's doesn't mean much to me.

That's fine. if you want to use more technically accurate phrases.
(Hanley didn't quote you btw)

But saying you hate the phrase is a bit elitest and stuck up.
The same as people who mock others who say "muscle is heavier than fat". Obv a kg is a kg, but people are clearly refering to density there and everyone knows that.

If it was lead and steel it wouldn't be an issue.

didka

Mellor wrote: »

But saying you hate the phrase is a bit elitest and stuck up.

Did anyone say that they hate it? Surely you can dislike a term without being stuck up.

I also think that 'tone' is usually used to sell programs & products that don't work. People that usually recommend toning - come up with all sorts of statements deserving place in this discussion.

It's a term that is very easy to dislike if you are into exercise and fitness.

The things is - I don't believe everybody knows Hanley, some may know. But allot of females I know would think that they need to avoid building muscle on all costs, while toning up.

Mellor

People selling programs are easily disliked. They should know better.

I'm clearly talking about being anal with a layperson just looking for advice. You know wht they means, just answer the question and maybe point out what toning actually is. (fat loss/muscle gain)

didka

Isn't this exactly what I did? I explained why I don't like the term and what does it mean for me (or doesn't) - in detail.

I got a funky bird pictures
Capital letters (isn't this equivalent of shouting?)
Bing stuck up?
Anal?

May be there is history of people not being helpfull to others looking for advise around here, but I can honestly say it wasn't me!

howtomake

Hanley wrote: »

What's wrong with 'tone'? Everyone knows what someone means when they say it.

Maybe everyone around here knows it, my introduction to the word a few years ago was slightly different. It has been given to me as advice (on a number of occasions) as to what I should do as a woman instead of lifting heavy weights. That I should be lifting lighter weights 15-20 times for toning my muscle, instead of making them bulky by lifting heavier weights. Which is why I quoted that specific sentence, which reminded me of that. I was speaking from my own personal opinion and experience from that word when I have been given advice.

maximoose

Has to be when people say that Power Balance wristbands have any effect on performance. Or anything for that matter.

howtomake

Mellor wrote: »

That's fine. if you want to use more technically accurate phrases.
(Hanley didn't quote you btw)

But saying you hate the phrase is a bit elitest and stuck up.
The same as people who mock others who say "muscle is heavier than fat". Obv a kg is a kg, but people are clearly refering to density there and everyone knows that.

If it was lead and steel it wouldn't be an issue.

I wasn't mocking anyone, nor was I giving advice, I just said I strongly disliked the term.

Ok I get you now, it just seemed like you were possibly referring to me since I was the one to say I don't like/(possibly hate) it.

Ah well that's the fun of communicating on forums :-)

Dathai

OP: "Hey, here's my log and my routine I've been doing it for 2 months. Here's how it's going so far.."

First Post: "Yo, have you heard of Stronglifts or 5/3/1??"


Wrecks my head when I see it on forums.

Zamboni

Definatley the stupidest health thing ever.

Mellor

didka wrote: »

Isn't this exactly what I did? I explained why I don't like the term and what does it mean for me (or doesn't) - in detail.

I got a funky bird pictures
Capital letters (isn't this equivalent of shouting?)
Bing stuck up?
Anal?

Read your reply to Hanley again.

howtomake wrote: »

I wasn't mocking anyone, nor was I giving advice, I just said I strongly disliked the term.

I never said you were doing any of those things???

I'm not defending it when PTs said it. I'm talking about the casual posters.



Anyway back on topic,
I hate when people harp on about the magic bio-protein window and protein being useless at other times

Blatter

I can see where they are coming from with the toning thing. It's fine to use the term if you know what it means, but I have found it is often associated with women lifting those 1kg weights "Oh you won't build big muscles this way, it will tone you''.

Actually, those 1kg weights deserve to be mentioned on their own in this thread.

flyswatter

Hanley wrote: »

Is it healthier for women to do it?

Good question. I really can't be sure, I'm far from an expert but I figure men are regularly off burning calories while women find it harder to do so maybe at times?

Possibly for reasons such as because their hormones are going up and down when they have their period.

Oryx

flyswatter wrote: »

Good question. I really can't be sure, I'm far from an expert but I figure men are regularly off burning calories while women find it harder to do so maybe at times?

Possibly for reasons such as because their hormones are going up and down when they have their period.

Expert or not, youre going to have to explain that one a bit better to me....

DamienH

Eating rice will make you fat.

flyswatter

Oryx wrote: »

Expert or not, youre going to have to explain that one a bit better to me....

Someone told me a while ago. I'll have to investigate it a bit further to see if there is real truth in it. Just one of those theories to look into for me at the moment.

G86

flyswatter wrote: »

Good question. I really can't be sure, I'm far from an expert but I figure men are regularly off burning calories while women find it harder to do so maybe at times?

Possibly for reasons such as because their hormones are going up and down when they have their period.

So, if I can't lose weight, it's because of the mood I'm in?

You're a brave man flyswatter...a brave man....:pac:

In fairness, bar water retention, I don't see how that could have any kind of effect whatsoever. But feel free to explain further.

Zamboni

G86 wrote: »

But feel free to explain further.

= Feel free to dig deeper.

Hanley

G86 wrote: »

So, if I can't lose weight, it's because of the mood I'm in?

Well with any other girl I'd say thats's definitely false. But with you.... :D

G86

Hanley wrote: »

Well with any other girl I'd say thats's definitely false. But with you.... :D

Ok, maybe not specifically me....:p

Da Za

Dathai wrote: »

OP: "Hey, here's my log and my routine I've been doing it for 2 months. Here's how it's going so far.."

First Post: "Yo, have you heard of Stronglifts or 5/3/1??"


Wrecks my head when I see it on forums.

Does someone dislike 5/3/1??


A girl in work asked me about "toning" up......blah blah blah I gave her some advice and she said I don't know about that "I don't want to be bulky like you"........Come On!!!!

Hanley

*whoops

flyswatter

G86 wrote: »

So, if I can't lose weight, it's because of the mood I'm in?

You're a brave man flyswatter...a brave man....:pac:

In fairness, bar water retention, I don't see how that could have any kind of effect whatsoever. But feel free to explain further.

Just a theory lads, don't fully believe it or anything. Maybe the person was talking shyte.

But look at it this way. If someone is on medication and certain types in particular won't they find it harder to lose weight? At one point I was on 20mg (maximum dose) of a drug notorious for weight gain and sugary food cravings. The drug is Zyprexa (Olanzapine) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olanzapine#Metabolic_effects

I did work out a bit in the gym at the time of taking it and still put on several stone in the interim. I was carrying weight all over my body. I look at old pictures and I looked pretty horrible to be honest.

When the meds started to be cut gradually, from 3/4 dose, to 1/2, 1/5, 1/8. The weight just fell of me then, even without a whole lot of exercise. When combined with the exercise then you are obviously going to get better results. And it did.

So maybe apply that same logic to a woman taking the pill or another medication. Obviously there are ways around it but it just might be more difficult to shift.

Hope you get where I'm coming from here. :pac:

Oryx

Im confused. Its probably my hormones.

flyswatter wrote: »

Also when someone mentioned in the media to refrain from eating after 6 o clock to lose weight. It works but it's not really healthy, for men anyway.

This is what I was asking you to explain, particularly when you then said this:

flyswatter wrote: »

I figure men are regularly off burning calories while women find it harder to do so maybe at times?

Possibly for reasons such as because their hormones are going up and down when they have their period.

Which seems to have little to do with this:

flyswatter wrote: »

But look at it this way. If someone is on medication and certain types in particular won't they find it harder to lose weight? At one point I was on 20mg (maximum dose) of a drug notorious for weight gain and sugary food cravings. The drug is Zyprexa (Olanzapine) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olanzapine#Metabolic_effects

I did work out a bit in the gym at the time of taking it and still put on several stone in the interim. I was carrying weight all over my body. I look at old pictures and I looked pretty horrible to be honest.

When the meds started to be cut gradually, from 3/4 dose, to 1/2, 1/5, 1/8. The weight just fell of me then, even without a whole lot of exercise. When combined with the exercise then you are obviously going to get better results. And it did.

So maybe apply that same logic to a woman taking the pill or another medication. Obviously there are ways around it but it just might be more difficult to shift.

Hope you get where I'm coming from here. :pac:

Questions:
a) why is it unhealthy for men to refrain from eating after 6pm?
b)what has women's hormones got to do with this?

metamorphosis

In futire, after making a mistake (Hanley!) instead of continuing the TF closure here, maybe brong it to the actual relevant thread.

Il move the posts that are relevant over now

eilo1

I was told by a trainer that type one diabetics shouldnt run long distance! :mad::mad::mad::mad:

discus

Zamboni wrote: »

= Feel free to dig deeper.

Herpity derp. Plenty of hormones are noted for affecting body fat levels. Not sure he's digging at all.

Hanley

discus wrote: »

Herpity derp. Plenty of hormones are noted for affecting body fat levels. Not sure he's digging at all.

Ok... so women shouldn't eat after 6pm when trying to lose fat cos of their hormones?

flyswatter

Oryx wrote: »

Im confused. Its probably my hormones.
This is what I was asking you to explain, particularly when you then said this:



Which seems to have little to do with this:

Questions:
a) why is it unhealthy for men to refrain from eating after 6pm?
b)what has women's hormones got to do with this?

I think it's more to do with medication but hormones may just play a part. You seem to be kind of ignoring my medication point. That is a serious factor and if a woman is on the pill that can change the metabolism.

discus wrote: »

Herpity derp. Plenty of hormones are noted for affecting body fat levels. Not sure he's digging at all.

Finally. I'm not alone here :pac:

irishh_bob

went to a chiropractor six months ago , five mins after meeting me , he told me i had a twisted spine , he claimed he had come to this conclusion by having observed me walking down the hall to this surgery , this despite the fact that not one radiographer in three years had deciphered from many X RAYS that my spine is indeed twisted

Bassfish

Stupisist things i've heard/seen:

Don't eat banana's they're fattening (from a girl drank vodka like water)
Weight watchers ready meals are the best way to lose weight,
Wear lots of layers while running to burn more fat.

Hanley

Bananas are quite high in carbs and can lead to weight gained/impeded weight loss.

eilo1

deadlybuzzman

Workmate: "Oh ya shouldnt take that protein powder stuff, thats bad for ya!"
Me: "Theres nothing in this thats not in milk, is milk bad for me?"
Workmate:..........

and on another day...
New Housemate: "Oh that protein powder stuff isnt good for you"
Me(looking into fridge): "And I guess that heineken of yours is good for you?"
New Housemate:.....

senordingdong

Don't eat after 8pm...

Remmy

The worst one I heard was a while back.I was deadlifting and in between changing weights this guy went up to me and asks me am I into the powerlifting.I cant remember what I said but he launched straight into telling me he is gonna compete but he doesnt want to pull over 100kg lest he injure his back.He then proceeded to tell me all about the different types of steroids you need to take if you're a powerlifter.:rolleyes:


There is some pretty ret@rded gym members around these days..

Hanley

senordingdong wrote: »

Don't eat after 8pm...

You're not supposed to eat after 6pm if you're a girl cos of your hormones.

Da Za

Is it 8pm for guys?

senordingdong

Hanley wrote: »

You're not supposed to eat after 6pm if you're a girl cos of your hormones.

Haha, better tell the missus so.