Five Fitness Fads That Are Actually Bad For You

There’s always a new diet or fitness technique floating around that’s guaranteed to make you look incredible in a short space of time. We often buy into these crazes, stocking up on the latest superfood or buying that incredible detox tea because of some Instagram before and after pics. But often, these quick fixes don’t actually work, so here’s our round up of five fitness fads that can be bad for you!

#1 Weighted hula hoops
In the 90s, hula hoops were super popular, and nowadays some celebs have come out in support of weighted hula hoops which are supposed to be an awesome and fun way to tone up your stomach and hips. If you regularly exercise and eat healthily, weighted hula hoops may present you with great results, but normal hula hoops will probably do the exact same thing – without the risk of injury. You may create stress on your back or cause bruising on your body with a weighted hula hoop, and it’s probably best to limit the amount of time you work with them.

#2 Waist training
A favourite of the Kardashians, waist training requires you to wear a corset while you work out in order to shrink your waist and ‘train’ it to stay in the shape of the corset. It might work, but most doctors and health professionals agree that waist training is better for short-term results, wear them under a dress for a confidence boost but don’t rely on them for long-term results. They have a number of side effects, including displacing your stomach and causing back acne, and can cause breathing difficulties which make a normal workout especially painful.

#3 Meal replacement diets
We’ve all heard of juice or shake diets as a quick fix for losing a stone, most people use them as a last-ditch effort to shift weight for a big event. Meal replacement diets should actually work if followed properly, and can help you lose up to 2lb a day, but not enough research has been done to provide any idea of what stress they cause your body. One of the main problems with meal replacement diets is that they are a quick-fix, and you’ll probably find yourself craving food, as you’re eating fewer calories than you need. Most likely, once the diet is over, your weight will rebound. Meal replacement diets don’t teach you healthy eating habits and your body may go into starvation mode, storing fats from anything you eat in future.

#4 Toning shoes
Toning shoes promise to help build muscle, with everything from sandals to sneakers bragging of their muscle-building abilities it’s not hard to see why people spend money on what goes on their feet. We like to think there’s a short-cut to getting enviable legs and toning shoes would be perfect, if they actually worked. Lawsuits have been served to famous shoe brands for unsubstantiated claims that their shoes will help you tone up and remove cellulite, and doctors have warned that overuse of toning shoes may result in stress fractures in your feet!

#5 Diet drinks
The age-old myth that diet drinks are better for you is perpetuated in fashionable culture, celebrities and the fashion elite want to get their fizzy fix but also be health conscious so order a diet drink with their meals, but according to studies it’s better to go for the full-fat versions. But studies have shown that diet drinks are linked with a higher risk of diabetes than their full-fat counterparts. Diet drinks can trigger your body into a response that cause it to absorb more sugar from other foods! If you need a fizzy fix, try sparkling water or if you must – reach for the full-sugar, full-fat versions, it’ll probably be better in the long run!

There are always going to be fitness fads floating around that are either harmful or under-researched, so it’s best to get advice from a doctor or health professional before you buy into anything or try anything new! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Bloglovin to stay up-to-date with everything us CGD girls are up to and to be the first in-the-know with our amazing updates and giveaways!