Top 10 Most Common Fitness Misconceptions Are Revealed

If you asked someone what it takes to achieve their fitness goals, you’d get a lot of different answers. Some may say that all it takes is willpower, some might tell you that you should just diet, and others might suggest working out and eating as you please.

Everyone is different, there isn’t an ideal plan for everybody. What works for you might not work for others and vice versa.

So we here at ILKB have decided to debunk the biggest myths about health and fitness that we’ve been hearing:

 

1. Find your ideal exercise & keep at it.

Although you may be aiming to add muscle bulk in certain areas, it’s important to switch up your routine every now and then. No one likes a guy who skips leg day too often, but that’s beside the point.

Constantly working out the same muscles, day in and day out, will very often lead to injury. Each of your workout routines should include resistance training, cardio as well as flexibility.

 

2. Getting fit is about sacrifice and putting the time in.

Although it takes consistency and an extra hour or so of your time when you do decide to workout, many people believe working out will leave you exhausted and without focus.

You may think you’ll have a hard time focusing at work if you’ve hit the gym that morning. That’s not the case at all, it’s actually the complete opposite. Thanks to endorphins and some other variables, working out will leave you m

ore alert, focused and energetic.

 

3. You should be losing weight.

Instead of trying to lose weight, you should be trying to make yourself stronger. Doing a ton of cardio to burn fat, especially if it’s consistent, low-intensity cardio, can actually be counter-productive.

What you really should be looking to achieve is a good ratio of muscle to fat. Your body composition is what matters most, not the numbers that show up on the scale.

 

4. You should be getting results quickly.

Those “get rich quick” schemes you see advertised all the time are almost always a fraud. The same can be said for the “lose X lbs in X days” advertisements.

If you want to become physically fit, it’s going to require a lifestyle change. You will have to rely on your will power and determination. Take it easy at first, don’t beat yourself up if you’ve strayed from the path. Get back on it and keep at it.

 

5. Extreme dieting is beneficial.

All those diets that claim you’ll “lose X lbs in X weeks” or “drop a dress size in a week” are almost always lying. The odds of that happening are slim.

It’s not impossible, but even if you were to drop a dr

ess size in a week, it’s not going to last. When you get off the diet, you’ll put that weight back on and then some, most likely.

 

 

6. Physical results are all that matters.

To begin noticing any physical change in your body, you’ll need to wait a pretty significant amount of time. Anything worth having is worth waiting for.

However, a lot of people seem to forget all of the other benefits working out can give you. Virtually immediately, you’ll find yourself able to sleep better, feeling more energetic and in a better mood overall. It’s those endorphins at work again…

 

7. Rest, while important, doesn’t help you gain any muscle.

It’s important to get into the gym fairly often. It’s also important to give your body time to recover from the rigors of intense training.

If you’re physically demanding your body to train more than you’re allowing it to rest, it may very well result in injury. You may also find yourself plateauing, being unable to add weight to your sets. Believe it or not, you could actually end up losing strength.

 

8. As long as I’m working out, I can eat however I’d like.

Unfortunately, we’re not all born with the same metabolism as say Michael Phelps. He can consume 3,000 calories a day and ultimately end up still looking like the same Olympic athlete.

Many people who’ve gone through a physical transformation can attest to this – becoming fit is 30% working out and 70% your diet. Change your diet and stick to your fitness routine and you’ll see the pounds shed more efficiently.

 

9. Ab work will strengthen my core.

Your “core” isn’t just your abs. Your core actually extends from your neck all the way down to your hip flexors. So working out your core goes much further than planks and crunches. It’s just as important to train your back as it is your abs.

If you don’t balance training to attack both the front and back sides of your core, you’ll ultimately leave yourself much more susceptible to injury.

 

10. No carbs = faster results.

Carbs are your source for fuel. How can you expect to work out if you don’t have any energy?

Pasta parties on the night before games for sports teams aren’t going to waste. Things like pasta and other grains are naturally high in carbs and give you the energy to perform. By removing carbs from your diet, you’re essentially limiting yourself in your workout.

 

 

Can you think of any other misconceptions that need to be put to rest? Leave a comment and tell us!

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Why Your Push-Up’s Aren’t Making You Stronger

The push-up is perhaps one of the most convenient and effective exercises you can do. It’s an upper body exercise that can be performed just about anywhere. With that said, it can be difficult to perfect and often times, people will often require modifications to help them at first.

For those of you who need to make a push up a little easier in the beginning, do yourself a favor…

Take your knees off the floor.

Plain and simple, these will not help you perform an actual push-up.

By using this modification to make push-ups easier to perform, you’re only making it easier to continue doing push-ups with your knees on the floor. Wondering why? Well, that’s because you aren’t using that many of the muscles that typically are engaged when performing a proper push-up.

“What’s a proper push-up?” you ask.

The proper push-up should look something like this:

Your feet must be together, your glutes should be squeezing and your back should remain flat, no dips or bends. Your entire body will essentially be working in unison.

Your body should be moving in a straight line, your elbows should be at an approximate 45-degree angle. To engage your chest, your elbows are going to bend outwards and you’ll bring your chest down towards the floor.

Essentially, a push up is a moving plank of sorts. When done correctly you’ll be using, and subsequently training/strengthening your chest, arms, back and core. As you can see above, the entire body is incorporated in the movement, everything is moving.

Using your knees to do a push-up.

If you’re using your knees to assist in your push-up, you’re basically completely removing your legs from the equation entirely. It’s harder to squeeze your glutes and you don’t get your back into it at all. Furthermore, when you’re doing a push-up from your knees, you’re also putting unnecessary stress on your wrist, elbows and shoulders. This could potentially lead to injury.

What’s actually preventing you from doing a push-up?

A lot of people have difficulty performing a proper push-up, but that doesn’t always mean that they lack the upper body strength. That obviously plays a part, however, what’s normally lacking and ultimately limiting you from doing it the right way is the necessary core strength. Another big factor is improper movement.

Constantly executing push-ups with your knees on the ground can and will do more harm than good.

So what do you do if you really can’t do a full push-up?

Instead of modifying the push-up to the point where you could be potentially causing injury, modify it so that your entire body is stabilized and working together.

So if you can’t do a push-up and you shouldn’t use your knees for support, what can you do? You can do an incline push-up. You could use a bench or even your couch. If you’re using the bar on the smith machine, you can lower it as you see fit, until the point where you’re confident enough that you can do an actual push-up from the floor. Unlike the knee push-ups, an incline push-up with allow you to engage your core and maintain a neutral back.

Like a pillar in a building, your core is the primary source of your strength. Without a pillar holding the weight of the ceiling, you should expect the ceiling to come tumbling down. Without the necessary core strength to do a push-up, you can’t expect to be able to maintain a proper push-up position.

 

Training and strengthening your muscles to perform a proper push-up can take time. There aren’t any shortcuts, you have to incorporate every muscle a push-up would normally incorporate. Do yourself a favor and remove the “knee push-up” from your routine.

 

 

If you had trouble performing a proper push-up, comment below tell us how you overcame it!

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Kickboxing Classes Atlanta at i Love Kickboxing

Check this out for some Atlanta Kickboxing Motivation: http://kickboxing-atlanta.tumblr.com/

You Can Workout Indoors When It's Cold! - I Love Kickboxing Atlanta

If the recent change in weather has thrown you off of to exercise in the cold, then at least find motivation to attempt indoor exercises. As it feels great to stay snuggled on the couch with a blanket, calories won’t be burned that way. Besides, the more your body moves around, the warmer you’ll feel. If you wore layers at the beginning of your workout, a good one will have you remove a couple of them from burning and sweating — the cold air will actually feel good!

These workouts can be done indoors and outdoors alike: jumping jacks, squats, burpees, push-ups, lunges, running up and down the stairs. To move consistently with the heart rate pumping in the cardio zone for 30 minutes is an accomplishment. An hour will make you feel even more pumped! Or if you feel brave to exercise in the cold outside, having warm coffee waiting for you when you get back could be a good push. Other motivators can include music, dogs, workout partners, and rewards.

OR, if you need motivation to workout indoors, check out the all-year round studios of I Love Kickboxing. You only have to step outside a little bit to reach your car. However, once you make it through our doors, feel excited for all that you will have access to: fitness coaches for motivation, space to run around, large body-sized punching bags, fitness companions, the opportunity to have fun, and a guaranteed good wholesome workout.

Whatever the reason, you need to find ways to continue exercising during cold weather so that you can still reach your goals. Like the cold, hard-earned results can also be temporary. If you can overcome working out when it’s cold, you will be in awesome shape for spring and summer! You will also feel that you really earned the recent status achieved.

For more information on I Love Kickboxing, visit here.

It’s Almost Skin Season! - I Love Kickboxing Atlanta

As Georgia heads towards spring, the warm weather will come in and push away the need for jackets and gloves. If anything, bare arms will show more frequently than the last couple of months. T-shirts and shorts will clothe all,and soon the stores will display huge swimsuit collections if not already. And shortly after, pool parties and sunny vacation spots start filling up calendars.  

Self-image insecurities can arise during the warm seasons as clothes start to reveal more skin to stay cool. Those mindsets can all be fixed by being active at I Love Kickboxing Atlanta. Our fitness kickboxing studio is opened seven days a week — from sunrise to sunset! The instructors are ready to work with you to reach fitness goals to make, and they will help you with every step. From keeping you motivated to showing you how to get a fit body, you will enjoy this brilliant kickboxing community!

It’s not too late to work up a sweat now to look great for summer!

For more information on I Love Kickboxing Atlanta, visit here.

Opened Opportunities at I Love Kickboxing Atlanta!

I Love Kickboxing Atlanta opens its doors throughout the day and week to support the community’s fitness needs. From early risers, to noon goers, and to evening runners, the studios come with equipment and fitness coaches ready to put all to work. With instruction available at all times during class, the kickboxing instructors and large punching bags become all that is needed for an awesome workout!

Rain or shine, workouts are always happening over here! 

I Love Kickboxing Atlanta classes are great opportunities to make connections with other fitness gurus in the area. Especially when these new friends become awesome people to enjoy workouts with, they provide a constant source of inspiration and motivation that make reaching fitness goals more fun!

For more information on I Love Kickboxing Atlanta, visit here.

I Love Kickboxing Atlanta - It's Good for a Rainy Day!

Did you have to skip your run today because of the weather? Well, don’t sweat it! I Love Kickboxing Atlanta is the perfect all-year-round fitness studio that will always meet your workout needs. From adding fitness instructors to your network and to maintaining a good fitness regimen, our program helps all reach their exercise goals.

All you need to do at our kickboxing studio is to show up with a pair of boxing gloves, and we will take care of the rest! Our classes will guide you through a workout that infuses cardio, resistance, and interval training. And within a few weeks, your eyes will be correct when they see positive changes of weight being lost and muscle beginning to develop nicely.

Every time you break a sweat through our program, you are on the way to improving your life! You’ll learn to push through hard work and the temptation to stop while you’re winning! Most of the times, it takes someone on the outside to push you to your best.

For more information on I Love Kickboxing Atlanta, visit here. 

Boost Self-Confidence with I Love Kickboxing Atlanta!

Depression. Anxiety. Tired. Jealousy. Loathing. Hatred. Stressed.
How many times have you been stopped by your emotions?

Similar to how scratching a rash makes it worse, wallowing in these emotions harm individuals. We have all been there, letting our emotions get the best of us. Sometimes they get so bad that they suck all the energy out of your body. But as much as it sucks to be told that “happiness is an inside job,” it’s true. Especially on a day when you’re feeling negative, a positive quote like this might make you wince or want to punch a wall. The quote sounds too simple, but the same mind can also produce happiness in addition to the negative ones.

Although emotions are vulnerable to outside sources,—money, people, jobs, hobbies—they can be controlled. It takes practice and hard work to not cave into the negative emotions, but the right kind of influence makes it easier: find a new job, change who you hang out with, and/or attempt something new. Whatever it is that’s holding you back from being happy, you might find the reason when trying to improve your life. By simply making a goal and finding inspiration to fuel motivation, you will be able to treat whatever is going on inside your head.

Our studios help people.
I Love Kickboxing is here to help people blow off steam and increase their self-esteem. With a boost in confidence from reaching fitness goals,—and people will break a sweat while doing it!—they see what they are capable of. And to us, when we see that, it confirms even more how accessible, affordable, and fun fitness can change lives!

For more information on I Love Kickboxing, visit here.

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Written by: Christie McGowan

Atlanta Kickboxing Instructors - We're Here for You!

When you’re in the midst of deciding to pick back up with exercise, remember to also be kind to yourself. It’s easy to be hard on ourselves for errors that we consider responsible for. At some point in life, we have all heard that we’re responsible for our actions. As much as this is true, the fitness battle is better when you can surround yourselves with positive guidance.

At I Love Kickboxing Atlanta, us instructors are here for you every step of the way. The fitness journey is tough, but we make it a living to help people reach their goals. We know the struggle because we are just like you! We have all struggled with weight loss and other health challenges, and we are able to help others with similar struggles. And believe it or not, we are always striving for other fitness goals. We are here to guide for your benefit!

Please don’t hesitate to approach us with questions and concerns.

For more information on I Love Kickboxing Atlanta, visit here.

Super Awesome Kickboxing Membership Special!

All Current and New Members of Georgia Locations Will Benefit!

Who: All Georgia Choe’s HapKiDo & I Love Kickboxing

When: Nov. 28-Dec.1

Where: Online Web Special

What: Black Friday Kickboxing & Martial Arts Membership Special

Stay tuned to find out about our fantastic web special for all Georgia locations of I Love Kickboxing. It will be one of your best investments out of everything in your Black Friday basket! This special is opened to everyone – current and new members too! It will help get you into the groove of getting in shape, OR reward you for all the hard work from previous classes!!

SO. Keep your eyes and ears on alert, for this Kickboxing special could be a fantastic gift for the upcoming winter holidays!

This web offer is available to the following locations:

Buckhead, Grayson, Cumming, Duluth, Loganville, and Flowery Branch

For more information on classes and current web specials at I LoveKickboxing Buckhead, visit here. Also find us on Facebook!

The Best Kickboxing Class Out There! - I Love Kickboxing Buckhead

Fitness kickboxing aims for the same goals as all the other exercise opportunities: maintaining a healthy weight, decreasing health risks, and contributing to the enjoyment of a healthy lifestyle. Also similar to other sports is the community formed amongst kickboxers. Once someone joins a studio, suddenly a support group exists. As all kickboxers and fitness gurus can relate, everyone is trying to reach some goal – from weight loss, to toning muscle, and to staying motivated.

Like all sports, fitness kickboxing used for body sculpting purposes has its own flare when combining aerobic, anaerobic, and strength work outs. This dynamic trio of goods results in a flawless fitness formula.

How It Works
For seven days a week, I Love Kickboxing Buckhead guides multiple groups through a variety of workouts within one class. We know from experience that kickboxing can be a love-hate relationship. It is a workout where someone is itching to stop midway of a set of bicycle crunches but somehow finds the energy to force self to push through, knowing it will be worth it. When results show after a couple of weeks of hard work, the mind is convinced to keep going.


While engaging in cardio and toning work outs may not be so new to individuals, learning the fundamentals of kicking and punching are new. Kickboxers learn that it is not a job well done if only relying on the one fist or the one foot to deliver a blow. They learn that the entire body has to be behind every blow and jab. With constant training and understanding on how to throw a jab or a punch, two amazing effects: 1) the mind engages with the body on what to do, and 2) the body’s performance gradually becomes stronger. These effects come from the time spent in kickboxing classes, as they build a person’s confidence.

The Beauty of Fitness Kickboxing
Fitness kickboxing brings out the power people did not know they had. When the mind sees the body’s capabilities, it changes the attitude of the actual body performing. As the kickboxer watches the punching bag almost tip over with a hard front kick, and realize that it was because of good technique, she/he wants to do it again and again. Soon, the individual’s stamina is able to do a minute’s worth of multiple hard front kicks in a row.  

What to Look Forward to
Through the practice of persevering and the art of striking a body-sized punching bag, kickboxing shows evidential progression. At the start of every week, people in our Atlanta studio come in and feel different. They approach our floor with a new kind of determination compared to the previous week. A boost of power is added to their strides. And with every day that kickboxing is attempted, the body and mind become more aware of their capabilities.

For more information on I Love Kickboxing Buckhead, visit our homepage. Also check us out on Facebook, and Yelp!

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Written by: Christie McGowan

Release the Stress with Buckhead Kickboxing!

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While stress can push a person to do well under situations, continuous pressure without relief results in negative consequences. Aside from the potential health problems caused by stress, as discussed on WebMD, it also harms the mind. It causes people to be hostile, have irregular food patterns, and increase anxiety and depression. This attention seeker also lets people dwell and skip out on everything good. With a little bit of exercise squeezed into the day, like in a kickboxing studio at I Love Kickboxing Buckhead, people’s day will be brighter.

  

I Love Kickboxing Buckhead = An infinity of benefits!

• Great for the built-up anger, depression, and anxiety in response to stress.
• Makes people take a break from life and concentrate on something else.
• Produces positive energy.
• Awesome connections with encouraging kickboxing instructors.
• Results that reel in confidence.
• Boosts self-esteem.
• New Friends.
• Positive changes for life!

Although people react to stress differently from one another, they receive similar benefits from exercise. And with a motivating work out like kickboxing at I Love Kickboxing Buckhead, people change incredibly.

For more information on I Love Kickboxing Buckhead, visit here. Also find us on Facebook, and Yelp!

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Written by: Christie McGowan

Learn to Push Through Hard Times with Buckhead Kickboxing!

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Developing the ability to persevere is a work out on its own. And without a good teacher or guide, learning how to push through difficulties is harder. Because people tend to sell themselves short, it usually takes someone on the outside to see another person’s potential. That is why fitness coaches are an effective way to get in shape.

At I Love Kickboxing Buckhead, our instructors make it part of their careers to motivate people to new fitness levels. We understand that the pain resulted from kickboxing can make life difficult, but it is only temporary. After the pain leaves, the body shines the results of good, hard exercise. 

All of our teaching and pushing at I Love Kickboxing Buckhead are really to influence people to persevere. If we can show people the positive outcomes of pushing through hard work, then we will be able to influence a change in the mind. Soon, people are able to persuade themselves to persevere through exercise. 

We love watching people transform into confident, persevering individuals. Especially when they realize they can take control over their lives! If anything, we love watching people become happier about themselves. Through the I Love Kickboxing Buckhead program, people learn to see the best of themselves.

For more information onI Love Kickboxing Buckhead, visit our website. Also follow us on Facebook!

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Writing Contributor: Christie McGowan