If there’s one industry plagued with infinite amounts of bullshit, it’s health and fitness. From 6 minute abs to fitness hacks that claim to make exercising easier, the wellness industry thrives off our insecurities and self-limiting beliefs.

Though it seems like I’ve written numerous posts about the perils of subscribing to these types of gimmicks, I still get asked daily about various diet systems that make false claims about ‘quick’ weight loss. And while there’s more bullshit than I have time to list, here are the most common fallacies made by my ‘peers’ in the health and fitness industry:

Fallacy #1

Abs in 6 Minutes…

There’s no such thing as 6 minute abs. Despite what ‘experts’ say, there’s is absolutely no way you can achieve a six pack in six minutes. Toned abdominals are earned through hard work, healthy food choices and determination. Period

Fallacy #2

Do these quick fitness hacks and you’ll be guaranteed results…

Short cuts don’t exist. And that goes for all things in life. Anything worthwhile takes time to build. There’s no such thing as an overnight success. However there is a such thing as people who quietly work hard day in and day out without  any praise or recognition from other people. So when they finally emerge, it may seem as though they’ve created success overnight but in actuality, they’ve been toiling at it—whatever ‘it’ may be— for years.

Fallacy #3

I’m too old…

After you hit the age of 40, so-called experts want you to believe that our bodies are incapable of doing the things we once did when we were 20. This is one of my favourite bullshit fallacies because it’s very near and dear to my heart. At 41, I haven’t even hit my athletic peak yet. I’m  in better shape than I was at 20, feel stronger and build more endurance with each passing year. Why? Because I don’t buy into the bullshit. I don’t believe that our level of athleticism is determined by our genetics. I do however believe that human potential is limitless and as long as we work hard and have the right mindset, we can achieve anything.

Fallacy #3

Diet prison is a must…

There’s a common belief that we have to live in diet prison in order to achieve our weight loss goals. Life is made for living– not constantly dieting. Strict diets are not sustainable long-term. Eat foods that are close to the earth, exercise, meditate, think mostly positive thoughts, surround yourself with true go-getters and you’ll achieve more than just your fitness goals.

Fallacy #4

Easy work will get you where you want to go…

David Goggins puts it best when he says, ‘you have to suffer’, and he couldn’t be more right. Though exercise shouldn’t be punishment, it shouldn’t be easy either. Results are achieved when we work hard and persevere through difficult moments and that includes fitness. If you feel like your fitness routine is comfortable or easy then you need to change it ASAP.

Fallacy #5

The magic pill…

Bullshit gimmicks prey on our insecurities and also create new ones. Don’t fall victim to this. There’s no magic pill, powder or supplement. Stick to the basics: eat ‘real’ food and train more often than not.

As a fitness and nutrition expert, I often feel compelled to educate and inform society about the pitfalls of believing in such falsehoods. It seems as though everyday there’s a new miracle pill, workout or gadget that makes ridiculous claims. The next time you’re trying to determine whether or not something is nonsense think about these three things… Does it sound too good to be true? Is it sustainable? Does it make any logical sense? If it doesn’t pass the test then most likely it’s complete bullsh*t.