Quick! Let's begin some REAL FITNESS

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As the never ending Covid calamity continues (but seriously, it is an endemic and shall never come to a 'close') I, as well as several of my other colleagues have noticed something. Newer, trendy and potentially harmful 'diet' concepts haven't presented themselves in a while. 

'Shhh!' Someone might say, 'even talking about them welcomes the bullsh$@' and while I haven't exactly been canvasing the entire internet, it does seem as tho we've heard about intermetent fasting, keto, and vegan diet concepts for years...but that's about it.

Not that diet crazes and gimmicks are new. They, just like the previous methods, have been around for a long while and haven't really helped improve the state of health and fitness overall. Some might even say they've been harmful (I say as much pretty often). 

"Some thing I see all the time," says Jackie Burdine of Beastettes 4 Life, "is the terrible backslide of failed diets. It really hurts people!" And she is not witnessing isolated incidents. The only thing more synonymous with failed diets is the crushing of fitness hopes and dreams.

"Does it really have to be that way?" Jackie continues, "the answer is no, no it doesn't have to be like that. Fitness isn't a mystery! And diets aren't an 'amazing discovery' or something ridiculous like that." 

Question is, how important is making fitness and health a priority right now? Well the past 365 plus days hasn't been kind to many people's health efforts. There have been marked increases in: 

- Processed food consumption. 

- Fast food consumption. 

- Booze consumption (check out the episode) 

- Increase in average BMI norms (yes this is a viable health measurement). 

- Increase in risks associated with Covid complications. Article from The Guardian

So if we are looking for a 'sound' fitness / health program what are the criteria to do so? For general health and BMI management its a good idea to audit a program and make sure it fits this criteria: 

1) Program includes nutrition and exercise guidelines rather than something that emphasizes singular components.

2) Nutrition guidelines should allow for at LEAST 1200 calories!

3) Nutrition guidelines allow for food from ALL food categories.

4) Nutrition guidelines DO NOT omit one or more of the primary macro nutrients fat, carbohydrates or protein.

5) Exercise guidelines should include cardiovascular and resistance training guidelines. 

6) Exercise guidelines should have a multi-level protocol that doesn't throw beginners into the deep end and increase risk of injury. 

7) Guidelines should emphasize that credible fitness improvements and optimal health are products of a LIFESTYLE shift and not a short term sprint. 

So with all that begin said its a good time to avoid the diet pitfalls and mumbo jumbo that plagued the past hundred years, bled into the 21st century and threatens to reduce the potential for healthy, happy, and awesome fitness that so many seek!