There are, of course, many huge advantages to using the internet for researching information about health and fitness. The keywords ‘fitness and health’ are searched 33,100 times per month globally, and there are an estimated 88 billion Google searches about weight loss in America. Most of these articles assume that a person has some basic knowledge, but that’s not an assumption one should take for granted. For a good basis of knowledge, we advise turning to “Ted Talks”.
A TED Talk is a video based on a presentation by the main TED (technology, entertainment and design) conference, or one of its many satellite events around the world. The first TED conference was held in 1984 and it’s been held annually since 1990. This short talk model is a fun and easy way to learn about many different topics, as it only demands the audience’s attention for a short time. Curious? You should be! Follow on for Fitness & Motivation: Top 5, Best Ted Talks You Must See!
1. What is Fat? — George Zaidan
Fat is an important concept to understand. Fitness coaches and influencers constantly talk about burning fat, losing fat, eating less fat. And when one tries every quick tip listed on webpages, it can lead to the loss of motivation.
George Zaidan is the Executive Producer of Reactions, the American Chemical Society’s YouTube channel. In his talk, he explains how fat is made and the different types that exist.
You must know this fact that he shares: the amount of fat we eat doesn’t impact our weight nearly as much as what kind of fat we eat. He debunks this myth among others and shares an important piece of advice: Don’t let nutrition labels or advertising fool you.
2. Why Dieting Doesn’t Usually Work — Sandra Aamodt
Three and a half years ago, as per my New Year’s resolution, I gave up dieting and learned to eat mindfully. Now I eat whenever I’m hungry, and I’ve lost 10 pounds.
After hearing this, you are immediately drawn to listen to the rest. In this day and age, there are different methods advertised that claim are helpful when they can even be damaging. That is why it is important to resort to official sources and professionals such as Sanda Aamodt, a neuroscientist and science writer. This talk also shows that it is not always necessary to keep doing some things just for the sake of not quitting. Being consistent is important, but only if what you are doing is actually helping you.
3. How Healthy Living Nearly Killed Me — A.J. Jacobs
After learning about these topics, it’s also important to listen to more positive and even funny perspectives on these subjects. In this talk, A.J. Jacobs talks about his journey of testing the limits of behaviour, customs, and culture.
He immersed himself in the world of fitness and tried many routines and diets to see if he could be the ‘healthiest person alive’. I can promise you that the conclusions he draws are incredibly important. People usually relate to someone better when they use comedy or humour in their speeches, they make them feel more natural and approachable. Learning about funny anecdotes relaxes us to know that not everything is perfect and that it takes time.
4. The 1-Minute Secret to Forming a New Habit — Christine Carter
Once you have set your goals and how you are going to work to achieve them, it is important that you start doing it. And it is difficult to find the motivation to get up from the sofa and hit the gym, for example.
In this Ted Talk, Christine Carter explains how to create a habit in an easy way. Christine teaches high-achievers how to craft sustainable lives as leaders, and in this talk, she states that creating a habit depends on our willingness to be bad at our desired behaviour.
We have to fight not to fall under the law of least resistance, instead of ‘try doing one better-than-nothing behaviour’. Watch the video to know what this means and how to prevent yourself from losing motivation.
5. How to Live to be 100+ — Dan Buettner
In this Ted Talk, Dan Buettner explains how to live to be 100 as 90% of how long we live is dictated by our lifestyle. As with fitness, many internet resources claim to have perfect tips to a longer life (to take this supplement, drink that smoothie, do this or that activity etc).
Dan Buettner partnered with National Geographic to pin down scientific data about this issue and explains his findings. He is a National Geographic writer and explorer who studies the world’s longest-lived people trying to find a single plan for health and long life.
You will be surprised by his research. There is no better motivation for starting to work out and eating better, than knowing that you’ll have a much better chance at living longer, and in the most optimal condition for a quality life.
Every day there are discoveries about health and how to live longer. It is extremely important to double-check any information you read online and turn to experts in those fields. If not, you may end up doing exactly the opposite to what is advised. Once you know how to do it, start acting it up and never lose your motivation! Even though creating a habit is difficult, try and try again, but most importantly allow yourself to be bad at it at first.
Learning from people’s journeys is a good way to remind yourself that you can do it too, and can laugh about it, which is also extremely healthy. What’s the all-time most inspirational Ted Talk on fitness motivation you’ve ever seen? Let us know in the comments below and join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!
