Nowadays, new fitness trends are popping up on social media every day, promising faster results. Unfortunately, many of these popular approaches come with hidden risks that can silently harm your body over time. 

According to a survey, 61% have dedicated workout spaces at home, while 31% have an official gym membership. Even though these figures show a positive shift towards self-care, improper practices can turn these habits into dangers. 

Check out the five hidden risks behind today’s trending fitness trends routines:

Equipment Malfunction

As the revenue of an industry increases, many new players will enter the market.  Let’s take the case of Colorado Springs. 

The gym, health, and fitness club industry in Colorado has reached a tremendous market size of $686.7 million. Being a major city, Colorado Springs has a fair share of gyms and fitness centers. So, competition rises, which forces the manufacturers in the city to lower the price. For that, they usually replace the production with substandard materials. 

As we all know, most fitness exercises depend largely on equipment and machinery. Usage of second-quality materials increases the risk of injury due to malfunction. For instance, weight machines constructed with lower-grade metals might fail under heavy load. 

In such cases, the injuries could have a long-term impact even on your personal life.  Imagine that you sustain injuries in an accident in the gym as a Colorado Springs resident. You can seek legal help if it happens due to faulty gym equipment. You can seek the support of a Colorado Springs personal injury attorney who can guide you through the legal process. 

As per Springs Law Group, even if you want to resolve the matter with an insurance company, you may need a trusted lawyer on your side. Otherwise, your claim may face severe delays.

Whey Protein Side Effects

Whey protein is one of the most popular supplements among fitness enthusiasts due to its convenience and high protein content. Even though it helps with muscle growth, excessive usage can lead to several side effects. 

Take the case of lactose, one of the major components of Whey protein. As per stats, approximately 65% of people worldwide can face lactose intolerance issues. When they use whey protein for the long term, it can lead to chronic gastrointestinal issues. 

Similarly, the kidney may get strained to handle the excessive protein intake. As a result, digestive problems are common for whey protein users.

Sugar Withdrawal

Sugar cutting is the most trending fitness campaign right now. But how many of the followers know that sugar is actually an essential element for body functioning? In fact, sugar acts as a catalyst for retaining muscle energy during workouts.

Cutting out all sugar overnight will shock your system. It can cause a phenomenon called ‘sugar withdrawal,’ characterized by mood swings and fatigue. Such a situation would even change your metabolism drastically.

Remember, natural sugar is a requirement for your body like vitamins and nutrients. Therefore, your focus must be on reducing processed and refined sugars instead of blindly cutting down everything. 

Extreme Calorie Deficits

Many modern so-called ‘fitness specialists’ advise aggressive tactics like One Meal A Day (OMAD) for faster weight loss. It may seem like genuine advice at first. But taking it too far leads to serious consequences.

Long-term calorie restriction can trigger your body’s starvation response mechanism to store more fat rather than burning it. That means you may end up with a more obese appearance as compared to the beginning. Plus, there are chances for hair loss, brittle nails, osteoporosis, etc.

Instead of resorting to extreme measures, try to maintain a balance. Aiming for a calorie deficit of 500 calories per day may lead to a reduction of about 0.5 to 1 pound per week, which seems to be a more realistic goal. For long-term diet plans, consider seeking the advice of an expert dietician.

Overtraining Syndrome 

Indeed, hard work pays off, but overworking can be counter-productive. Yet, many fitness programs focus solely on intense training sessions that leave little room for proper recovery. 

Such an approach often leads to Overtraining Syndrome (OTS)- a condition that can severely impact both physical and mental health. Some of the common symptoms of OTS are fatigue, poor sleep, mood changes, etc. In worst cases, it could even lead to hormonal imbalance that may affect the reproductive system.

Remember, recovery is crucial for muscle repair. And it takes time. Without adequate rest, your body cannot rebuild the muscle fibers torn during workouts. 

Modern fitness trends have opened new gates to stay healthy. But that doesn’t mean that every fitness advice you see online is true. You must exercise your knowledge and think twice before jumping on to some random trends. If in doubt, always consult a registered physician. Remember, staying fit is a long-term commitment, not an overnight success.