With every new exercise fad that comes along, a good amount of skepticism always comes with it. Of course, some of the doubt is warranted. Past products like the “thigh master” promised fast and easy results, which isn’t realistic. Long-term health and weight loss requires hard work and dedication. There is no getting around that, and this is the reason why so many workout fads fall by the wayside. But some are actually worth investigating. For example, some celebrities and professional athletes swear by a technique of exercise involving muscle confusion. The key is to workout different muscles everyday, so that you body doesn’t get use to certain routines and plateau. It sounds like a conceivable plan, and if celebrities and professional athletes endorse it then it must work, right? Wrong. Even though Jane Fonda endorsed the thigh master, it doesn’t mean that it worked well.
But not every exercise fad is a “fad.” Some actually work, and muscle confusion is one that produces results. There are a variety of programs and DVD workout regiments that center on muscle confusion, and they are far from easy. This type of technique involves a series of fast-paced and intense workouts that burn calories and get the heart rate pumping. You won’t be able to sit on the couch eating snacks while performing this exercise (which is why so many people bomb with fitness products sold on infomercials). You’ll actually have to get up and get moving in order to see results.
Muscle confusion may be a relatively new and inventive concept, but it does work when it is performed correctly. As you alternate a series of exercises over a period of time, your body will have difficultly adapting. Running on the treadmill is a great way to workout and burn calories. But over time, your body gets used to the motion and the activity of running itself. This causes your body to adapt, which eventually leads to complacency. Instead of burning calories and losing weight, your body adjusts and you plateau. Muscle confusion keeps the body guessing, so that it is always working at the optimum capacity.
Additionally, running on the treadmill starts to get a little monotonous and boring after a while. Muscle confusion helps to keep your workouts fresh and new, so that you don’t fall into a rut. The series of exercises in muscle confusion routines often include yoga, strength training, cardio activity and even stretching. Every week, you start a new routine. After two months of muscle confusion exercises, your body will look a lot different than when you first started.
As with any exercise regime or product, the results vary from person to person. The only way to really know whether or not muscle confusion will work for you is to give it a try. You may end up enjoying in immensely or you may find out that it’s not right for you. Don’t just buy into what other people have to say. Give yourself the opportunity to make up your own mind.
