Some thoughts and discussions from me.
3 Things I’ve Changed My Mind About
In the 28 years (which I can only say for 10 more days before I turn 29…) that I’ve been on this earth, I’ve been wrong about some things. And I’m find admitting that.
While I distrust anyone who claims absolutes (ie: dairy milk is absolutely bad for you! Or eating animal meat isn’t healthy for you! Or everyone should be lifting heavy!) I think most of us tend to have had a my-opinion-is-clearly-the-right-one-and-everyone-else-is-wrong mentality once or twice in our lives.
However, I’m not the type of person who says that very often – especially in the last few years. I also don’t angry if it turns out that I’ve changed my mind or that I’m wrong. In fact, today’s post is all about things that I’ve changed my mind or been wrong about.
1. Lifting Heavy is the End All Be All of Workouts.
Yes, I used to be one of those people who thought heavy lifting was the only way to build muscle and get results. In order for a workout to be a good one, it simply had to involve a barbell, some big plates, and one of the 3 main lifts. Now I know that not to be true. Sure, heavy lifting has a significant place in many lifting routines, but it’s not the end all be all of achieving every desired result under the sun. In fact, since I’ve been primarily bodyweight training, I’ve seen significant results in my strength – especially in my abs!
While I still enjoy and love getting under a heavy barbell, lately I’ve been enjoying exploring my strength through body weight exercises.
2. Crossfit is evil
I admit it, I used to be a crossfit hater. It was kind of the thing to do if you were in the fitness industry (i.e. as a personal trainer or strength coach.) Now, while I still probably wouldn’t put my own clients through the same process and rigor as many crossfit gyms do (not all!) I don’t have much of a negative association with it, and I definitely see the positives: building a strong, like-minded community, lifting and completing activities you didn’t think you could, and most importantly: it gets people lifting and active who might not be otherwise.
3. Paleo, gluten-free, competition-style or any other restrictive way of eating is an annoying trend.
This one’s more of a self-realization than a mind change, and it reminded me of it when Ashley asked me in this post what my thoughts were on the whole “gluten-free craze trend.” I’m not sure why I used let this annoy me in the past, especially since I did the first two for a while when I was trying to figure out what was wrong with my own body. If someone wants to eat a certain way that eliminates certain foods, good for them. If someone wants to get mad at people for doing so, that’s their prerogative, too, but I’m willing to bet it negatively affects the person getting mad about it a lot more than it affects the person who’s eating that way. Aside from the occasional amusement of someone hashtagging a banana as “paleo,” on Instagram, I don’t give it much thought at all!
And when it comes to my clients, as long as what they’re eliminating won’t lead them down an unhealthy path, I’m fine with it. Plus, I’ve found some really flipping good recipes through the paleo community!
I actually had 2 more things originally, but I think this is enough for today. Now I’m off to get in a workout using a TRX and a chin up bar. Have a lovely Monday, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
How do you feel on the “3 things” above?
What have you changed your mind about?
word! that’s all i got .. cause you read my mind
AMEN AMEN AMEN TO ANY RESTRICTIVE TREND
Im such a believer if we just get still and quiet and LISTEN TO OUR BODS we know what we intuitively need.
Carla recently posted…Food with BENEFITS (who’s down wit’ F.W.B.?).
I am with you on #1! I started to get tired of doing heavy lifting and I felt bad about it. Ashamed, frustrated, and scared that I would never want to do it again. it’s been two weeks away from it, and I don’t want to jump right back on the barbell. I think with this new “strong is the new skinny” movement going on (which is good/bad in different ways….a whole other post could talk about this), heavy lifting is getting put on the pedestal while other forms of exercise are being thought of as “not enough.” My goal now is not training under the barbell every workout, it’s just getting active and doing things that challenge me and are FUN. Lifting will always be there, and I will get back to it whenever I want to.
(ps: I will probably be doing some of your bodyweight at home workouts this week since I will be away from home. Thanks for posting them! 🙂
Kate recently posted…Taking Back Myself
I totally agree with the crossfit thing…as a personal trainer, it was a “fad” to hate on them haha. Currently I just feel that as long as they have a good coach, it’s not as dangerous…BUT I do think a lot of people get injured with crossfit…who knows.
I had a boss at one of my personal training jobs who only preached heavy lifting, and would openly disapprove the fact that at the time I Was training for a marathon. He also would tell clients he disapproved of them doing yoga, pilates, spin class…literally everything that wasn’t lifting!
Patty @ Reach Your Peak recently posted…Motivational Monday!
Yes, yes, and yes!! On all of these things. I will admit, I still get a little annoyed with people who decide to nix things from their diet for no real reason other than the fact that “it’s the new thing to do”, but I have become better about respecting their decision and not letting it get to me as much. 🙂
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries recently posted…Canyonlands Half Marathon
Love this! I’ve changed my mind about crossfit too. I still haven’t tried it, but I do see the benefits of it. We all reserve the right to change our mind! xoxo
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted…Growth Spurts and St. Patrick’s Day Food Plan
I agree, we all have to find what works for us as individuals… but I also think it is an ongoing process. I used to be the cardio queen. Then I discovered weights and body weight workouts.
I was strict paleo for a while and now I am enjoying Greek yogurt and the odd bit of cheese.
Glad you are continuing to learn and explore, too.
That’s great, Elle! And yep, it’s just part of being human 😉
One thing I changed my mind about in the last few years is dairy & meat! I never used to eat much of it because I thought it wasn’t “healthy” for you but in moderation & changing my lifestyle habits I really enjoy eating these two food groups.
yay for bodyweight workout love 🙂 we love doing a lot of bodyweight stuff!
Purelytwins recently posted…HIIT in the Bedroom purely training #53 workout
Yes you have! I love your bodyweight workouts!
I have my own personal views but my overall view is if it works for the person, they like it, it fits with their lifestyle & it is not detrimental to their health – more power to them! 🙂 We all have to find what wor5ks for us!
Jody – Fit at 56 recently posted…Gratitude Monday & Flu Update
This is eerily well timed. I was just saying to my sister that while I’m in l-o-v-e with paleo, I admit it may not be right for everyone. It’s hard not to shout from the rooftops when something changes your life in such a positive way, but like you said, it’s not for everyone. Neither are workouts, or boys, or shoes…. 😉
Truth! And wouldn’t life be boring if it were? 🙂
While I don’t think that gluten free/Paleo/et al are annoying trends per say, I do think that they are being used too much as excuses to restrict for a lot of people. People can easily say, “oh, I’m trying out the gluten free thing” to be hip and trendy, but in reality they are just dealing with an irrational fear of bread. I am just starting to come off the Wheat-Is-Bad-For-Everyone mindset (even though I still ate it, so clearly I thought I was beyond it!) and now I really do feel that avoiding gluten should be for those who really do have celiac or severe food intolerances. I think sources of wheat, for example, are more important than cutting them of all together. I don’t think a piece or two of sprouted Ezekiel bread a couple of times a week is going to hurt the average person or make them blow up overnight. Do I think bread is the ultimate health food that some nutritionists and the govt suggest it is? No, but the societal villification of it is not helpful either.
Jen @ Bagels to Broccoli recently posted…Investigating Calorie Restriction
I really like this post. I have been thinking lately about the way we can tend to shame other people’s food and exercise choices — but if it works for them, and its not harmful (like severe calorie restriction), then who are we to judge? It’s all about getting fit my own way. I do things the way I like them, so I shouldn’t be dictating how others feel. This is a good reminder of that!
Amalia recently posted…Setting Intentions
For 1 and 2, I’ve actually gone the other direction. I just could never get to where I wanted to go without lifting heavy and I’m now limiting HIIT stuff to once or maybe twice a week, mostly in the form of sprints. As for food, paleo is just an excuse to eat whole foods but I do avoid wheat because it makes my head feel “fuzzy”.