Flab to Fab in a Couple Minutes? I Don’t Think So.

Several bizarre exercise theories have been pitched in the past 30 years. Everything from finger workouts and facial exercises to shake weights and body wraps, but are these methods even worth trying?

Some fads have been sweeping the nation and the effects seem rather positive. Blogs have been dedicated to teaching yoga for those at home, and tough training programs like Crossfit encourage members to push themselves to their limits. YouTube users have also dedicated their time to teach daily workout routines, and there isn’t a magazine without one article mentioning discreet in-office workouts.

Crossfit, for example, posts workout routines daily for those unable to attend classes. There are 28-day workout calendars for great butts and abs. All these methods could definitely be considered effective for those that attempt and succeed, because working out in and of itself is effective. Any form of cardio or muscle-toning will show results as any method of exercise is burning calories and fat.

But there is no guarantee that these workouts alone will get us or keep us in shape. Ultimately, working out is a personal task that cannot be done by anyone else. Trainers spend time and money trying to get people out of their seats and sweating, but it doesn’t change the fact that sometimes we’d rather choose to just watch and not jump in.

All of these workout fads and theories have one thing in common: consistency. No trainer promises results unless we are consistent with our routine, and we can’t be consistent if we don’t have the correct mindset. We need to think healthy to become healthy, as our minds determine how hard our body wants to work. It also helps to keep a healthy diet so less calories will need to be burned.

It seems that everyone is desperate to have toned bodies like the people in magazines. But we try to find shortcuts so we don’t have to dedicate the time and effort it takes to get there. Unfortunately, not all of us are born with amazing metabolism, but sometimes that extra bite of cheesecake is totally worth the calories.

Of course, getting in shape isn’t going to be a fun ride. But we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves, after all, nobody’s perfect.  Regardless of how hard people work for the perfect look, they can’t  forget to take a break.

Our generation is so obsessed with taking the easiest way to obtain the perfect look. We can spend all the time in the world trying to figure out what exercise method is the most efficient, fun and rigorous, but that doesn’t change the fact that losing weight and getting fit is going to be hard. Getting in shape doesn’t have a step-by-step method, because it’s a process and a lifestyle.