Most of the Advice Out There Online on Getting Physically Fit is Well-meaning… But Severely Disconnected

The internet is full of advice when it comes to being physically fit. From diet plans to exercise regimens, there’s no shortage of information for those seeking a healthier lifestyle.

But are these resources an awesome way to get fit on your own?

Or a complete waste of time?

In this post, we’re going to take the time to analyze these in detail and assess the worth of these resources.

To complete our investigation, we used a 3-step process that included (outline steps).

1. Step #1: Discover the Most Popular Resources on the Web
2. Step #2: Evaluating resources for effectiveness.
3. Step #3: Final Results

Let’s dive right into it…

Step #1: Discover the Most Popular Resources on the Web

In order to accurately proceed with this step, we started from the very basics and simulated a scenario in which an individual was searching for resources necessary to become physically fit.

We found that: As a beginner, if someone wants to look for information to assist them in their fitness endeavors, they tend to find what they are looking for by utilizing these methods:

1. Google search
2. Youtube search
3. Wikipedia
4. Quora

With a view to finding the most useful resources, we have opted to limit our search criteria to these four ways only, as this is what the majority of people appear to be doing.

But, is the combination of these search approaches enough to help an individual who is overweight or obese reach their goal of obtaining greater physical fitness?

Let’s find out.

1. Google Search:

In an effort to understand what individuals seeking genuine physical fitness are researching on Google and the websites they visit after their queries, we conducted our investigation.

In order to complete this task, we used a widely utilized tool, Ahrefs, to find what people are actually searching for on Google. And we found this:

Through our research, we have discovered that:

“Many individuals commonly use two keywords when turning to Google for answers to their fitness questions: ‘how to lose weight fast’ and ‘weight loss’.”

Then, we found this:

We further discovered that:

“The majority of queries regarding ‘how to lose weight fast’ and ‘weight loss’ were primarily sourced from the United States, United Kingdom, and India.”

So, we have chosen to restrict our search parameters to these countries specifically.

It was now clear that by carefully monitoring the terms ‘how to lose weight fast’ and ‘weight loss’ in the United States, United Kingdom, and India, we can better understand the fitness advice that is being embraced and implemented by most people.

And that’s what we did. We prepared individual SERP reports for these two search words across all three specified countries.

(Search Engine Results Page (SERP) The page that a search engine returns after a user submit a search query.)

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For the United States:

For “how to lose weight fast,” Search Term:

For “weight loss,” Search Term:

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For the United Kingdom:

For “how to lose weight fast,” Search Term:

For “weight loss,” Search Term:

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For India:

For “how to lose weight fast,” Search Term:

For “weight loss,” Search Term:

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Then, after reviewing all of the SERP reports, we had to determine the most visited resources. In order to be more organized, we began categorizing all SERP reports according to “page visits” and were able to create a unified list of the “top visited pages.” Here is the list:

1. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/managing-your-weight/12-tips-to-help-you-lose-weight/
2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322345
3. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-lose-weight-as-fast-as-possible
4. https://www.forbes.com/health/body/how-to-lose-weight-fast/
5. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047752
6. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/special-topic/diet-for-rapid-weight-loss
7. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/index.html
8. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/advice/a17162/lose-weight-faster-karas-0302/
9. https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-and-nutrition/diet/tips-weight-loss-actually-work/
10. https://www.webmd.com/diet/lose-weight-fast

Now that we have access to Google’s most sought-after sites, our next step in this process was uncovering YouTube’s top resources.

2. Youtube:

We think there is a similar approach to the way people source information through Google and YouTube – not too much of a difference.

But still, in the interest of gaining valuable insight, we employed the Ahrefs tool to assess what fitness-oriented queries are being posed on YouTube, as well as which videos viewers tend to watch most frequently. And we found this:

Through our research, we have discovered that:

“Many individuals query YouTube with fitness-oriented terms, such as ‘weight loss’ and ‘how to lose weight fast,’ in search of an answer. Additionally, many individuals are turning to ‘weight loss transformation’ in order to motivate themselves.”

So, by carefully observing the trends for search terms ‘how to lose weight fast’ and ‘weight loss,’ we can gain valuable insights into the types of content that viewers are turning to on YouTube for help with their fitness goals.

And that’s what we did. After searching YouTube for the exact search terms, multiple videos were presented. However, we aimed to find the videos most people had viewed. To this end, we arranged the videos according to “view count” by utilizing filters.

The following were the results of our investigation:

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For “weight loss” Search Term:

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For “how to lose weight fast” Search Term:

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(The intention behind organizing the videos by “view count” was to identify the videos that have been seen by most individuals till now.)

After carefully examining the videos and sorting out common videos and YouTube shorts, we were able to generate a list of the Most Viewed Videos. Here it is:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pLT-olgUJs
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MoGxae-zyo
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRkNfdlm5Qs
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL_dE81O_mw
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enYITYwvPAQ
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG_Bs0QLc3I
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=digpucxFbMo
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohgLmY19jNg
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7cdJ9-T6CM
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNz9C_vyIB0

Now that we have compiled a list of Youtube’s most viewed fitness-oriented videos, our next step was to explore Quora’s top resources.

3. Quora:

To gain insight into the type of fitness-related content being consumed through Quora, we did an exploration on two prominent topics, which included “Weight Loss” and “Body Weight“.

Through our research, we discovered that people are discussing topics pertaining to fitness under both of these topics.

In order to identify the content that had been seen by the most substantial number of users on Quora, we initiated a search for “Most Viewed Writers” within related fields. For further investigation, we chose the five most highly regarded writers from both topics.

At this point, we wanted to research the content that these writers have shared and determine which has been viewed most often. To accomplish this task, we utilized the profiles of all writers and cataloged their content based on an “all-time views” benchmark.

To identify the most well-viewed content, we carefully examined each author’s profile. Consequently, we successfully created a comprehensive listing of the most popular content according to views. Here it is:

1. https://www.quora.com/What-is-Indian-dinner-diet-for-weight-loss
2. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-weight-loss-diet
3. https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-ways-to-lose-weight-8
4. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-type-of-exercise-for-weight-loss
5. https://weightlossfasteasy.quora.com/How-to-Lose-Weight-Without-Exercise-in-30-Days
6. https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-lose-weight-quickly
7. https://www.quora.com/What-are-6-simple-ways-to-lose-weight-and-keep-it-off
8. https://www.quora.com/I-am-fat-and-only-gain-weight-on-my-belly-How-do-I-get-the-fat-distribution-better-over-my-body

Having gained access to Quora’s most prominent content, our next step was to progress our investigation into Wikipedia’s supremely valuable resources.

2. Wikipedia:

Wikipedia is undoubtedly the world’s leading encyclopedia, offering the largest and most comprehensive compilation of knowledge ever seen in human history and being highly accessible to everyone.

In order to conduct an adequate investigation of our primary topic, we have decided to select a specific page from Wikipedia that is “Management of Obesity,” as our source due to its wide-reaching and thorough coverage of the discussion. Here is the link to the resource: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_of_obesity

Taking the fact that “weight loss” is a commonly sought-after term into consideration, we elected to incorporate the Wikipedia page for this exact query into our research. Here’s the link to that page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weight_loss

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We have gathered some very helpful resources from four prominent sources: Google, YouTube, Quora, and Wikipedia! Our initial investigation has been fulfilled. Now we can take the next step and move on to part two of the investigation.

Step #2: Evaluating Resources for Effectiveness

We found this to be an essential element in our investigation as it enabled us to assess whether the physical fitness advice given by the resources would be adequate for someone.

Everyone prepares dishes in their own special way, but a dish will become taste just that much better when the correct ingredients are added in the proper amounts at the appropriate time. In a similar fashion, for someone to achieve optimal health and well-being, exercising and eating healthy foods is only part of the picture; there are many other involved considerations.

What makes an awesome fitness article? Let’s figure it out together – what are the must-haves for an impactful piece of content?

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a) Fundamentals:

1. Fat Loss Recommendation:

With so many people actively trying to find ways to lose weight, it is important that we remember that fat loss and weight loss are not interchangeable; although they both result in decreased numbers on the scale, there is a distinct difference between the two. Weight declines when body fat, muscle mass, bone density, and water weigh-ins decrease. When someone attempts to lose weight without changing their diet or engaging in physical activity, there can be an undesirable side-effect of diminishing muscle mass along with fat.

Sidenote: It is imperative to note that any fitness content which promotes weight loss rather than fat loss is not giving correct information.

2. Muscle Mass:

Focusing solely on weight loss without considering muscle mass can lead to negative consequences such as a slower metabolism, decreased bone density, and a higher likelihood of regaining weight. Therefore, it is important to educate people about the benefits of maintaining or increasing muscle mass while also losing fat to achieve overall health and wellness.

Sidenote: Fitness-oriented content often neglects the importance of building muscle mass, which can misguide people in their pursuit of desired physical outcomes.

3. Calorie and Energy Balance:

Calorie and energy balance are fundamental principles of fitness that play a key role in achieving any fitness goal, whether it be fat loss, muscle gain, or maintenance of a healthy weight.

Calorie refers to the amount of energy that is derived from food and drinks we consume. On the other hand, energy balance simply means the number of calories consumed versus the number of calories burned. If you consume more calories than your body burns, you will gain weight; if you burn more calories than your body consumes, then you will lose weight.

Sidenote: Including information about calorie and energy balance is important to provide a comprehensive understanding of fitness and nutrition in any fitness-oriented content.

4. Maintenance Calories:

Knowing your maintenance calories is crucial for achieving your fitness goals, whether it be fat loss, muscle gain, or maintenance. Consuming more calories than your maintenance level will result in weight gain while consuming fewer calories than your maintenance level will result in fat loss. By knowing your maintenance level, you can adjust your calorie intake based on your goals and make progress in a more sustainable and healthy manner.

Sidenote: If physical fitness content neglects to inform its readers of maintenance calories, then it is failing to address an essential concept that is necessary for individuals to properly manage their weight and achieve their fitness goals.

5. Calorie Deficit:

A calorie deficit is a crucial component of fat loss and achieving fitness goals. Without a calorie deficit, it is difficult to lose weight, even with regular exercise. Therefore, any fitness-oriented content that fails to explain the concept of calorie deficit is incomplete and may mislead individuals seeking to lose fat. Providing clear and accurate information about the importance of maintaining a calorie deficit through a combination of diet and exercise is essential for achieving long-term success and promoting overall health and wellness.

Sidenote: It is essential for fitness-oriented content to include a clear explanation of the concept of calorie deficit in order for it to be considered comprehensive. Without an understanding of calorie deficit, individuals may struggle to achieve their fat loss goals or may inadvertently harm their health by not properly fueling their bodies.

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b) Food and Nutrition:

1. Basics of Macros and Micros:

To achieve fat loss, it’s essential to create a calorie deficit, which can be achieved through a balanced diet plan that includes all three macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fats) and adequate amounts of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). Any fitness-oriented content that fails to address the importance of macros and micros in creating a balanced diet plan is incomplete and may mislead individuals seeking to achieve their fitness goals.

Understanding the basics of macros and micros is necessary for creating a sustainable and healthy diet plan that supports overall health and wellness. Providing accurate and practical information about how to balance macros and micros in a diet plan is essential for promoting long-term success and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Sidenote: Any content aimed at fitness that neglects to emphasize the essential role of macronutrients and micronutrients is not comprehensive.

2. Personalised Diet Plan:

Personalization of a diet plan is crucial for achieving long-term health goals. A diet plan that is designed keeping in mind an individual’s unique needs and challenges is more likely to be effective and sustainable in the long run. A generic diet plan might work for some people in the short term but can prove to be ineffective and even harmful in the long run.

Sidenote: Any fitness-related content that recommends a common generic diet plan for every person is misguiding and not correct.

3. Balanced Diet Plan:

Instead of following extreme and unsustainable diets, it is important to focus on creating a balanced and personalized diet plan that meets individual nutritional needs and preferences. Moderation and balance are key to achieving long-term success in reaching health and fitness goals.

It is important to remember that a balanced approach to diet does not mean perfection. It is okay to indulge in your favorite foods in moderation, as long as they are not the main source of your daily calorie intake. A flexible and balanced diet plan that is tailored to your unique needs and preferences is the key to achieving sustainable health goals.

Sidenote: It is important to note that if fitness-related content suggests entirely avoiding any particular food item from one’s diet, it is likely providing unreliable information.

4. Calorie Counting:

Calorie counting is crucial for maintaining or achieving a healthy weight, as it provides individuals with an accurate measure of energy intake and allows them to make informed decisions about their diet. Ignoring calorie counting can lead to overeating and weight gain. Understanding calorie intake is also necessary for effective weight loss or muscle gain.

Sidenote: Fitness-oriented content has a responsibility to address the importance of calorie counting in achieving overall health and wellness goals.

5. Setting Macronutrients Ratio:

Setting the correct macronutrient ratio is important for achieving your desired physique. Paying attention to the right amount of protein, carbs, and fat that you need to consume can make a significant difference in your progress. While calories are important for weight loss or gain, they don’t tell the whole story. Macronutrients play different roles in our bodies and have unique effects on our metabolism. Therefore, setting up correct ratios will help optimize your body’s performance toward your goals.

Sidenote: If you have been following fitness-oriented content but haven’t come across any information on macronutrient ratios, then it’s time to question the quality of the content.

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c) Exercise and Training:

1. Resistance Training:

To achieve long-term fitness goals, it is important to have a well-rounded exercise routine that includes resistance training. Many fitness resources overlook the importance of resistance training and prioritize other types of exercises. However, resistance training is highly effective in building strength and improving physical health, including improving metabolism, and bone density, and reducing the risk of injury. Despite misconceptions, resistance training does not necessarily make individuals look bulky or masculine.

Sidenote: If physical fitness content neglects to recommend strength training in your workouts or emphasizes any other form of exercise above it, then it is overlooking an essential concept.

2. Personalised Workout Plan:

To achieve desired results in resistance training, it’s important to have an individualized approach that takes into account one’s unique body and specific areas of focus. Simply following generic workout routines or copying exercises from Instagram influencers is not enough. Understanding the science behind resistance training and how different exercises impact the body is crucial. One-size-fits-all approaches to exercise programming do not work in the long run.

Sidenote: If you are not finding the fitness content you need to help you develop a customized resistance training program, then it appears that the information provided may be insufficient.

2. Progressive Overload:

To achieve optimal results, having a workout plan alone is not enough. One must also understand the concept of progressive overload. Progressive overload refers to the gradual increase in stress placed on the body during exercise, which can be accomplished through increasing weight load or resistance levels and adjusting other factors such as sets and reps. This principle is based on the idea that our bodies become stronger and fitter over time as they adapt to increased demands.

Sidenote: If fitness-oriented content fails to introduce you to the concept of progressive overload then it’s important you seek out reliable sources that do so.

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d) Tracking:

1. Daily Weight Readings:

Tracking your progress is essential to achieving fitness goals. By tracking your weight, you can monitor your progress and identify whether changes to your diet or exercise routine are needed. Consistent weight readings can also help identify patterns in your progress, enabling you to adjust your fitness plan accordingly.

Sidenote: It is imperative that information related to physical fitness emphasize the need to keep track of fat loss through daily weight readings for it be regarded as complete.

2. Weekly Body Measurements:

Tracking body measurements is crucial for achieving weight loss goals, as it provides insight into how much fat has been lost specifically. While weighing yourself gives an idea of weight loss or gain, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Body measurements like waist circumference and hip-to-waist ratio can help keep you accountable and motivated throughout your fitness journey, allowing you to tweak or adjust elements of your fitness plan accordingly.

Sidenote: If fitness-oriented content does not provide information on monitoring fat loss progress through taking weekly body measurements, then it is severely lacking.

3. Weekly Progress Pictures:

Progress pictures are a valuable tool to track changes in body composition over time that may not be apparent on the scale or in the mirror. They enable individuals to see changes in their bodies, including decreases in body fat percentage and increases in muscle mass. Additionally, weekly progress pictures can inspire and motivate individuals to continue working towards their goals, as seeing visible improvements can provide a sense of accomplishment and encourage healthy habits such as regular exercise and balanced nutrition.

Sidenote: Fitness content is incomplete if it does not provide instruction or guidance related to tracking fat loss progress through weekly photographs.

4. Workout Performance:

Tracking progress through workout performance can provide important feedback on how your body is responding to exercise. For example, if you notice that your endurance has improved during a particular workout routine, it may indicate that your body is burning more calories and losing fat. Similarly, if you see improvements in your strength or speed during a workout session, it can suggest that your body composition is changing in favor of lean muscle mass. By tracking your performance and progress over time, you can identify areas where you need to improve and adjust your workout routine accordingly to achieve your fitness goals.

Sidenote: If fitness-related content does not provide information concerning the effectiveness of one’s exercise regimen in terms of fat loss, then it is lacking key components.

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e) Physiology of Fat Burning:

1. Spot Reduction:

It is essential to educate individuals about the reality of fat loss and how it occurs in the body. Promoting the idea of spot reduction can be misleading and lead to unrealistic expectations, ultimately causing frustration and discouragement. Instead, a balanced and consistent approach to exercise and nutrition that leads to overall fat loss is necessary for long-term success.

Sidenote: It is essential that content related to fitness involve a discussion regarding spot reduction; otherwise, it is incomplete.

2. Stubborn Fat:

Fitness content should discuss stubborn fat, which is the most challenging type of fat to lose, accumulating around the belly, hips, thighs, and lower back. Ignoring this topic disregards a common challenge faced by those trying to improve their body composition. Stubborn fat requires more effort and time to lose compared to other types of fat.

Sidenote: Fitness content that ignores this important factor fails to provide comprehensive guidance for people who are serious about getting into shape.

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f) Metabolism:

1. Metabolic Adaptation:

Fitness content should address the role of metabolism in achieving fat loss and muscle gain, as well as metabolic adaptation. Metabolism is the chemical process that converts food into energy, and its rate is influenced by age, sex, genetics, and lifestyle. Metabolic adaptation is when the body adjusts its metabolic rate in response to changes in diet or exercise, which may hinder fat loss or muscle gain goals.

Sidenote: Content focusing on fitness should discuss metabolism and its natural course of adaptation in order to be considered comprehensive.

2. Metabolic Damage:

Metabolic damage is a condition that can occur due to prolonged calorie restriction or excessive exercise, causing a significant slowdown in metabolism. This can lead to decreased energy levels and difficulties in achieving fat loss or muscle gain. However, many fitness-oriented content creators fail to address this issue, which can lead to incomplete and potentially harmful information. If left unchecked, metabolic damage can result in long-term health problems such as hormonal imbalances, thyroid issues, and infertility.

Sidenote: It is essential for those creating fitness-related content to educate seekers on metabolic damage thoroughly.

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g) Fat Loss Plateau:

1. Identifying and Breaking Fat Loss Plateau:

The concept of breaking through a fat loss plateau is often overlooked in fitness-oriented content. A plateau occurs when your body stops losing fat despite your best efforts, and it requires understanding what may be causing the issue. Overcoming a plateau can be challenging, but it is essential if you want to continue making progress toward your fitness goals. Incomplete or vague information about this issue can add to the frustration felt by those struggling with their weight.

Sidenote: It’s crucial that fitness-oriented content clearly highlights ways to identify and overcome plateaus in fat loss journeys.

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h) Other Important Elements:

1. Estimation to Complete Fat Loss Journey:

While it’s difficult to give an accurate estimation of the time frame for everyone’s fat loss journey, fitness-oriented content should provide a general guideline or a rough estimation of how long it may take to achieve fat loss goals. Additionally, it’s crucial to focus on making sustainable lifestyle changes that promote long-term fat loss and overall health, rather than just focusing on short-term weight loss goals.

Sidenote: Content focused on physical fitness, which fails to provide an estimated timeframe for achieving desired results, is inadequate.

2. Supplements:

Fitness writers and creators must be transparent about the effects of supplements on the body when creating content. While supplements can be useful in supporting fat loss and muscle gain, false claims and marketing tactics can mislead readers and pose health risks. To create accurate content on this topic, a solid understanding of the science behind supplements and their effects on the body is essential.

Sidenote: With so much misinformation out there, it’s crucial that fitness content creators provide accurate information about supplements to their readers.

3. Real-Life Example:

Real-life examples and success stories can help to validate the effectiveness of the fitness-oriented content and inspire others to adopt similar healthy lifestyle changes. Personal experiences can also provide valuable insights into the challenges and benefits of following a particular fitness program or diet plan.

Therefore, it’s important for fitness-oriented content to be based on sound scientific research and also to include real-life examples and success stories to support its effectiveness.

Sidenote: Content regarding fitness that fails to provide tangible examples of how they can be applied in a real-life setting is insufficient.

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The pursuit of fitness goes beyond physical appearance and requires the inclusion of multiple components. Achieving fitness requires the presence of all essential elements as the absence of one will hinder progress.

Now, it is time to inspect the collected resources to determine if most of the commonly used resources have the critical components present. In order to ensure accuracy, we carefully tested each resource individually to determine the presence of these essential components. And, look at what we got:

1) Google Search Results:

First 5 Results:

Next 5 Results:

2) Youtube Results:

First 5 Results:

Next 5 Results: