Worst Fitness Mistakes My Patients Make

As a family medicine doctor I see patients for fitness-related care all the time. I decided to put together a list of some of the most common mistakes and pitfalls my patients deal with as they begin their fitness journeys. Today we talk about all sorts of stuff, such as the impact of your diet, the myth of spot reduction, gym fails, supplement use such as protein, creatine and pre-workouts, aggressive personal trainers, the truth about stretching, the importance of weight lifting, and the incredible value of recovery. Let me know how your fitness journey is going down in the comments!

I LOVE reading your comments and take your suggestions seriously. If there’s a subject you want me to discuss or something you’d like for me to react to, leave a comment down below. Many of my videos have been born out of suggestions directly from you, so don’t hold back!
-Doctor Mike Varshavski

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* Select photos/videos provided by Getty Images *

** The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional **

[jenaiyawilliams]

“If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit”

[LilSktty]

Doctor Mike should be everyone's doctor

[ADCArtAttack]

When I worked as a PT, I got so tired of hearing "I wanna lose weight here, but not here".

Then you explain spot reduction isn't real, and they counter with some weird online myth. 🙄 I can imagine what you have to live with in the office!

[Daan]

As an experienced gym goer and fitness nerd, these tips are some of the best you can hear as a beginner and I wholeheartedly approve this message.

[ShortHax]

a) Saying “I got this bro” when you definitely haven’t haven’t got it

[abbylifewithlove]

Worst fitness mistake I make:
“ I’ll do it later”

[yigitcangurses]

The fact that he started with “not everyone has to or needs to lose weight” says a lot about this guy

[emilyjewkes]

This is my favorite Doctor Mike video! The best thing I ever did for weight loss was letting go of strict macro/calorie counting and fad diets and fad exercise. I do what felt fun for my body every day and stop tracking calories and just starting tracking food types (carbs, vegetables, protein etc.) I lost MORE weight this way! Doctor Mike has it RIGHT ON. I love this advocacy for less “diet culture” tropes.

[CHEFPKR]

My best decision in my weight loss journey recently was hiring a trainer and coach who had a longevity approach.

[jenaiyawilliams]

“If it’s important to you, you will find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse”

[ignitionfrn]

0:25 - Mistake 1 - Thinking exercise is the "end all be all"
0:50 - Mistake 2 - Trying to "spot reduce" bodyfat
1:25 - Mistake 3 - Failing for the fads
1:55 - Mistake 4 - Going on a supplement shopping spree
2:45 - Mistake 5 - Gripping the cardio machines
3:10 - Mistake 6 - Obsessing over numbers
3:50 - Mid roll ads
5:25 - Mistake 7 - Going hard too soon
6:25 - Mistake 8 - Stretching properly
7:00 - Mistake 9 - Skipping the weights
8:15 - Mistake 10 - Forgetting about recovery

[michaelaftonswifeyy]

Dr. Mike is an awesome doctor. As a person with a severe food allergy, I love watching his videos, and his content is #1.

[beesams]

I’ve lost 75 pounds this year and I just started working out this month. Weight loss happens in the kitchen!

[DownTheAliway]

As a personal trainer...… this was incredible to finally hear an influencer talk about the REAL fitness industry. Not the stupid lies people spread in the fitness world online

[geenasherman]

As a future dietitian, I really like how you talk about nutrition. I wish it was more emphasized that everyone’s body is different and your goal might not be achievable and helpful for you because not everyone can achieve the ideal body they might want.

[wieldingzillyhoo]

I went too hard on my working out when I got out of chemotherapy as a teenager. I developed an eating disorder due to how much people focused on my weight during treatment and had purged by exercising after i started gaining weight. Long story short, id go through rounds of binge eating and not eating anything and on top of that, excercising so hard that I permanently damaged my knees, hips and ankles walking 4 hours every afternoon with no prior build up as I had no muscle from chemo. Impact destroyed my joints and now i cant move without pain most days

[rinnylin]

I started lifting weights and I’m loving it. Tonight I was able to do a lateral raise with 10 lb dumbbells with proper form and I’m so happy. My goal is to do a pull up.

[mikecoletti]

Former NSCA certified personal trainer here: He just explained everything that would actually benefit what the typical non-athlete or person with a disability or persons with disabilities needs to know to become healthier. Seriously, this video is way more important than it lets on. Sharing everywhere I can.

[audreypolarwater]

I’m a runner and literally my fav thing is the step goal my watch sets! It makes me feel so accomplished and if I don’t get it one day, it lowers it and I usually get it the next. It makes me determined to increase my workout and sets slowly growing goals for me! But my fav thing about running is after a hard workout that you hated and it felt like you were gonna die, you feel so healthy and like you did something good for your body- one of my favorite feelings in the world

[ShikiPlays]

It makes me so happy and proud that I have been preaching all of this to my clients! Thank you so much for dispelling the myths that plague the fitness industry ♥