Top 3 “Waste of Time” Exercises - Made Fit TV - Ep 110

August 24th, 2010 | | Email This Post Email This Post |

Time is something that we can never get enough of, but a requirement for an effective workout program.  If you don’t even have the patience or the knowledge to even follow through with a program, it’s easy to stray, lose focus, become repetitive, and even start to mimic someone else’s program without even knowing how or why just to get your workout over with!

You suddenly find yourself asking “Why am I doing this?” and then are quick to assume that others know what they’re doing.  Do they really? Who cares!  You should always - and only - focus on YOU and the effectiveness of your personal health and fitness plan.

Your time is valuable and that’s why I show you three exercise movements that may be wasting your time. Find out what they are, why they’re not effective, and if you’re an offender of them in this week’s new Made Fit TV episode!

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  • Jordandu60
    bjr je cherche une poudre et des patches  mais je me rapelle pu le nom quelqun peut me dire le nom slt
  • I'm sorry, you need the name of what exactly? I want to be able to help you but not sure what you are asking for, so let me know : )
  • Daisy
    I loved your video. I must say that I have done these exercises. I will def try these new ones and stop wasting my time!! Thanks for this great video! =)
  • MaiCarInMtl
    Oh crap - I have one of those in my program. I wasn't crazy about the exercise itself anyway so I guess I'll just sub it out - yay for harder leg workouts!
    Actually, I've been wondering about this one thing I saw a woman doing at my gym just a few weeks ago. She stands there, makes her hands into fists and starts to hit herself in the lower abs -left/right/left/right - not too hard, non stop, for about 5 minutes. I was thinking that she may just be trying to keep her abs contracted for so long, but she could simply do that while standing normally, no? Any ideas?
  • LOL! No, you got it right - as long as you are keeping your abs contracted, no need for the extra beating of fists!
  • Yvonnegoldman
    Hi! thanks for your video on Top 3 waste of time exercises! although you are right that you don't work the quads/glutes/hamstrings etc with the side leg lifts, why are they a complete waste of time? surely they DO work the abductors and adductors which are still muscles in the legs and therefore will help shape/tone the legs? thanks for a great service to man/womankind!
  • Thanks for the comment! As I mention in the video, those movements do indeed train muscles, just SMALLER muscles that do not really make a difference with toning. "Tone" only means that you have less fat over the muscle and that is the only way you will look tone is to reduce the fat over muscle through cardio, lean nutrition, and overall total body conditioning- not isolating one area. Working the entire leg will increase calorie-burn, metabolism, and strengthen and shape the entire leg the way it should.
  • guest
    I had a trainer show me that twist thing in a new gym orientation, and I remember thinking that it seemed useless.
  • Yeah, it's good for maybe a warmup, but not for significantly conditioning the muscles...
  • I agree there are many exercises which are a complete waste of time. Like many do those ab crunches using that ab cruch machine where u sit on it with the roller type thing on ur chest n bend down. Then there is another machine which works for ur back, the same roller but this time behind ur back and u bend backwards. What waste of time!
  • No kidding! I would just stick to deadlifts because then you are hitting not only your lower back but your hips, glutes, hamstrings, calves, and quads all at once! It's one of the best movements you could ever do and I'm a fan : )
  • Jeromeas
    thanks for this video jenny, I'm definitely guilty of these waste time exercises....
  • Well, now you won't be and you can put that energy toward multi-joint, compound movements that will optimize your workout : )
  • kii
    Hi Jenny, that was a very informative episode. You mentioned that side bends are a waste of time, what about side crunches on a ball? are those a waste of time as well, or do they work to tone your abdominal area?
  • Amysusnis
    Hi Jenny that was another great episode.

    I do have a question about donkey kick for the rear end. The exercise when you are down on all fours lifting your legs it seems to be one people swear by for nice rear end.
  • Funny episode Jenny. My 3 waste of time exercises would be:
    - People doing tons of crunches (with their hands pulling their neck)
    - Women doing arm / shoulder exercises with ridiculously light dumbells because "they don't wanna get bulky"
    - People on cardio machines (bike or treadmill) who are reading a magazine at the same time.
  • That is so funny! Thanks for sharing! I CANNOT stand the "bulky" myth that women just magically fabricate - it's so inaccurate!! I will definitely post another episode like this because there are many more waste-or-time exercises I have witnessed.
  • Lwilliams11
    GREAT video Jenny ! I am a personal trainer and see people doing things all the time at the gym that are a complete waste of time ! Hire a trainer so you can get the most effective results from your work out time.
  • I see I'm in good company : ) It's so hard being a trainer and working out when you're "off the clock" and see people doing the craziest things! I especially cringe when I see people attempting deadlifts with their backs hunched over like a rainbow, lol!!
  • scof
    Awesome video Jenny! I think, It's as important to know what not to do as to know what to do ;) I have been doing side bends on and off now. I didn't do them since I have changed my exercise routine. However, as you say that doing side bends is going to just increase your mid section if you are not doing strength training/cardio along with it, my question to that: If one is doing core/strength and cardio, then in that case would the side bends help or even then it would be a No-No for the side bends and better to do the wood chop instead. I definitely would not want to increase my waist size by doing side bends if they would help never reduce ;) (And by reduce I don't mean by spot reduction but rather through overall cardio workout) :)

    -- Monica
    Germany
  • It's better to do multi-joint movements to improve overall function and strength of the core, so twisting motions and isolmetric movements are much for efficient.
  • Fire941
    Jenny,
    Do you mean to say that my new Jumpy Bean and Flailing Hands Fat-Burning DVD set doesn't stand much chance of being a success? Maybe it's time for me to re-think things.
    -Dougie
  • Unfortunately, I am sorry to report that that $20 you spent on your new DVD may have been a waste ; )
  • Patti Selasky-Bennie
    This was great as always! I can't believe I wait in line sometimes to use those leg machines and all I am doing is wasting time waiting and then wasting more time using them! When I work out I typically don't have a ton of time, so I have to maximize every second! Thanks for the great information!
  • michele
    Hi Jenny, love your episodes, you've quickly become my new mentor. I totally agree with you about the waste of time side bends just wondering why you didnt replace them with side planks. I love side planks and think that they make a nice strong foundation for the core and really help define the obliques. Whats your thought?
  • Side planks and side plank raises are great for the entire core for strength, stability, and function!
  • Shay
    EXCELLENT Jenny!

    Plus really, really funny! Loved the "woo hoo" torso twist!

    I am a personal trainer as well and I can't tell you how many times I have seen the 250 pound muscle head guy, who wouldn't be able to run to the bus because he has no aerobic capacity, or touch his toes due to all the muscle with no flexibility, but nonetheless they are rocking the torso twist with the barbell for 20 minutes at a time...

    Too funny!
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