Ever been told to do endless crunches for a flat stomach or spend hours on the treadmill to burn fat? While these are common recommendations, they aren’t the best fitness exercises for achieving lasting results. In fact, some of the most popular workouts out there are overrated and may not give you the desired outcomes. Fitness Coach Dan Go shared his insights on the 5 most overrated exercises and offered better alternatives for better results.
He boldly states, “The worst exercise on the planet? Burpees. It’s a chaotic mess disguised as a workout.” Here is what he said regarding the most overrated exercises and the most effective fitness exercises that are better for your purposes.
1. Burpees
Burpees are high-effort, low-return exercise. Although they shoot your heart rate up, they don’t increase strength or burn fat as well as other exercises. Furthermore, performing them to failure can put a strain on your lower back.
Better Alternative:
Jump Rope
Jumping rope is one of the greatest fitness exercises for burning calories, enhancing coordination, and increasing cardiovascular fitness—all with less joint stress. It’s enjoyable, effective, and aids your lymphatic system.
2. Unstable Surface Training
Unstable surface training, which targets balance more than strength, isn’t very useful for developing strength or muscle. It impairs force production, which translates to less muscle and strength gain in the long term.
Better Alternative:
Stable Surface Exercises
Adhere to simple movements on a stable surface. These best exercises for fitness enable you to develop true strength and muscle better, providing more effective outcomes compared to balance-based exercises.
3. Tricep Kickbacks
Tricep kickbacks only hit the triceps in a shortened position, which is not good for growth. They also put unnecessary stress on your stabilizers and joints, providing a low stimulus-to-fatigue ratio.
Also Read: Foot Strength Could Be the Hidden Cause of Back Pain
Better Alternative:
Overhead Tricep Extensions or Skull Crushers
These exercises hit the triceps in a lengthened position, allowing for actual growth. They provide a greater stretch and more load, making them much better than kickbacks.
4. Sit-ups
Sit-ups really only work your hip flexors, not your abs, and result in bad posture and back strain. They also don’t do much for burning fat or building core strength and have no functional application.
Better Alternative:
The Ab Wheel
The ab wheel tests your core stability and builds it up through a full range of motion. Contrary to sit-ups, which put a lot of stress on your hips and spine, the ab wheel creates a stronger, better-supported core.
5. Long-Distance Running (For Fat Loss)
Running for fat loss can be inefficient and harmful to your joints, especially if you’re overweight. Even if it works, you’ll eventually have to run longer distances over time to maintain results, putting more strain on your body.
Better Alternative:
Weights, Walking, and Diet
Strength training to maintain and develop muscle, increasing your metabolism. Add walking for low-impact cardio and focus on a balanced diet for efficient fat loss without the dangers of long-distance running.
