Spot Training For Fat Loss Isn’t A Thing
What is spot training
Spot training seems to be on everyone’s mind lately. As nice as the idea of spot reducing your fat stores in certain parts of your body sounds, it is not how the body works. If it were that easy, we should all have six-pack abs by now.
Our bodies are predisposed to store fat in certain areas. The only way to target fat loss in certain areas is to target the whole body. When you lower your overall body fat percentage you’ll lean out your total body including those problem areas. This is why spot training is a myth. As we know lowering your body fat requires proper diet and exercise.
Reduce muscle imbalances with spot training
Spot training can work if you are looking at correcting muscle imbalances or improving strength in certain parts of your body. For example, runners are able to build up strong quad and hamstring muscles in their legs by running consistently. However, by not training arms their upper body tends to be weaker, which can hinder their running form. By focusing on training upper body they can ensure their upper body has the strength to propel their legs forward.
This type of spot training is helpful if you are training for something specific that requires it. The optimal body composition is one that is in balance because we are designed to use our whole bodies. When you have muscular imbalances it can lead to health issues such as poor posture, joint pain, and muscle compensation. These muscle imbalances can be caused by over-training certain parts of the body as mentioned above. We can also unknowingly cause these imbalances through poor posture, remaining in a sedentary seated position for an extended period of time or wearing shoes with an elevated heel.
Perfection doesn't exist
The way most people view spot training is with the idea that there are problem areas on your body. The reality is all of our bodies have imperfections. We all have stretch marks, flab somewhere, cellulite, you name it. Rather than zeroing in on these areas we want to change we should broaden our focus to building overall body strength and improving our health. When we put our health first, our bodies will respond. It takes time and consistency, which is why it’s important to form new healthy habits and adopt an effective fitness routine.
Leave your comments below if you need any further clarity on spot fat reduction or how you can achieve your fitness goals.