READING YOUR UNPOPULAR FITNESS OPINIONS | cardio, fitness influencers, burpees, and *more*!

[@AzureBlueStarr33]

"doing something physical"/"bed workouts" aren't just for obese people. I was diagnosed with a heart condition that was causing chronic fatigue when I was 28. Walking ten feet to get a glass of water had me nearly passing out. The only thing doctors know to treat that level of fatigue is fitness. What fitness did my doctor prescribe? Standing next to my bed. That was considered a workout for me. It's been years and I still get frustrated when trainers or other gym rats tell me I need to go harder or do more. I have had to work for years to be at the level I'm at.

[@JustinaErcole]

YES! Exactly. Meet people where they’re at.

[@michellesmirnova4471]

Additionally people with depression might have some days where they can barely get out of bed, so doing a workout in bed could be helpful for them 🥰

[@AzureBlueStarr33]

@@michellesmirnova4471 Yeah, fatigue is a common symptom of depression (and vice versa). I like that that fitness is becoming more inclusive to those of us it looks different for.

[@lauracorrea9294]

Thanks for sharing your story!

[@IzzysTravelDiaries]

I have knee problems, long Covid over 2 years in and a hip problem. On some days making it to the bathroom is huge. On other days I'm in the gym for 2 hours. I take it day by day.

[@brightknight1965]

“Did you pickup more than 10 lbs today?” *looks over at 2 year old and 4 year old* I am fitness

[@JustinaErcole]

HAHAHAHA YES THOUGH

[@vtheory7531]

Not sure if this is an unpopular opinion, but I think we need to really stop judging trainers' credibility by their looks. We tend to trust fitness influencers/trainers etc. with six packs and big bootys more than people who look more 'regular' , despite these people often photoshopping/on PEDs/eat and train differently than what they advertise.

[@JustinaErcole]

THIS THIS THIS

[@k-lynnedancefit]

Agreed! Thank you for saying jt 🙌🏼💪🏼

[@Rentheflower]

AGREED! I know a lot of people who are smaller then me but in worst shape (they also can eat whatever they want.....) genetics are a huge factor in weight

[@loreleiford700]

I loved that you touched on how a lot (and I mean almost ALL) of the fitness industry is centered on making women smaller, not stronger. I have a very muscular physique and strength training, obviously, only makes that more apparent. I very much dislike a lot of the content I’ve seen lately that emphasizes getting stronger without looking bulky. Excuse me very much! I personally WANT to see my muscles growing over time. It’s a physical representation of the hard work that I’ve put in. The fitness industry needs to stop making women feel like we need to take up less space. That’s not helpful at all.

[@JustinaErcole]

100%!!!

[@sainsworth42]

preach!

[@ryandeffley7652]

Cardio is underrated. People fear it will make them lose muscle. But lifting, protein, and caloric intake detrrmine that. If anything the heart is the most important muscle in the body. 💯 **Cardio actually let's you train harder because you're better conditioned and more often because it speeds up recovery. So it adds to gainz. 💪

[@JustinaErcole]

THIS THIS THIS

[@rtdonin]

I powerlift and it's a trap a lot of powerlifters fall into. Sure you can deadlift x1.5 or more of your bodyweight, but can you walk up the stairs without sounding like you're dying?

[@ryandeffley7652]

@@rtdonin - I powerlifted recreationally for like 15 years. But even though I was strong AF in the gym, I had shitty general fitness, joint issues, and awful body comp. I think the rate of perceived exertion gives a false sense of intensity in the moment. So powerlifters overestimate calorie burn and eat/sit too much in the need of "recovery".

[@rtdonin]

@@ryandeffley7652 I've been actively trying to avoid those issues. I powerlift but my primary goal is being pain free when I'm old. I'm in my 20's and my goal is to be the grandma at the gym still lifting heavy and being able to run after my grandkids.

[@ryandeffley7652]

@@rtdonin - I like that you're thinking ahead. Most people don't. The fact that you're being a realist and longevity minded is very attractive. 👍 It's funny because I've said reportedly I want to be the crazy 80 year old running sprints and doing pullups. 🤣 **I made a conscious choice at 30 to change training modalities and my goals. Now I'm 41 so for the past 11 years I've done a hybrid of calisthenics, free weights (6-8 reps @ RPE 7 or 8), and various conditioning stuff. Plus I walk anywhere from 10-20K steps every single day. I look and feel 10x better at 200lbs and 12-14% bodyfat year round than I did being a powerlifter fat AF at 270lbs.

[@heyspeckle8782]

So, my unpopular opinion is that the fitness industry is incredibly ableist. That one opinion you luckily disagreed with shows it perfectly well. The industry and creators need to do a better job of including people with physical and/or mental disabilities, chronic pain and chronic illness and that also means that some people can only move a little bit and that's completely fine.

[@JustinaErcole]

I agree 100%!

[@MingSchwazia]

This, 100%. Fitness is for everyone, no matter what. Too many people equate fitness with competition. It's maddening!

[@robmarsh918]

Yes, I agree. When I was running a sort of rehabilitation fitness studio at a clinic, I’d get a lot of people with limitations and pain. The reason I did well there was bc I knew how to accommodate and modify…and empathize. Man I remember one obese woman came in and her personal trainer said they don’t do squats bc the woman can’t do it and it hurt her knees. I was so upset. I walked over and put a tall Plyo box behind her and told her to sit on it, then stand up. “There. You did a squat. We’ll start with these sit-to-stands and work our way lower over time.” What trainer completely omits and entire foundational movement pattern like that? Ugh! I

[@josephroa4475]

Excellent video. Cardio is overrated usually comes from Bodybuilders who are afraid it will kill their gains. If the heart doesn’t work doesn’t matter if you can deadlift 500lbs.

[@JustinaErcole]

YUP

[@ApequH]

If the heart doesn't work right you can be sure to faint when deadlifting 250kg (and if it does work right you still could faint)

[@Lolzadoodle8484]

I feel like the fear of looking "bulky" is very rooted in being scared of certain body types that don't fit that "graceful tiny delicate" mold, even if it's something that can't be changed and is part of our DNA. I'm always going to be a bit squarish and strong-shouldered, even when I'm at a lower weight. That's just my build. I never look "skinny." I wore the same size as one of my friends and no one would've guessed because I just look like I take up more space. There's nothing wrong with that, but there's such a toxic mentality around taking up as little space as possible as a woman/femme/even nonbinary or androgynous-presenting person. Also another note - on bed/chair workouts, they're very helpful for disabled people. Just because somebody can't place a lot of weight on their shoulders and squat doesn't mean their muscles deserve to atrophy. 😬 (This isn't a negative comment against you, but I do feel a general ick factor to people always dismissing tools or styles of doing things that accommodate disabilities, or treating them as a joke. I've done that myself though as a child when I didn't know better so it's not judgment. We all have things to figure out and I hope the person who wrote that hot take learned something new!)

[@JustinaErcole]

100% to both of these!

[@IzzysTravelDiaries]

I'm very square. I basically look like my father just bigger breasts. Everything on me is wide. When I went to Zumba class while I was also doing strength training all the girls were looking at me like I'm so fat. I was big, but my back looked like a body builder's. I actually loved it. Then I got a mystery illness that took me 2 years to cure and also Covid...

[@fran823]

Thank you for your response to the comment about bed workouts. I have chronic fatigue and some days all I can do is a 10 minute gentle stretch. I used to run marathons and so adjusting to a new definition of exercise has been really hard for me, and I feel like it’s really important to acknowledge that exercise means very different things to different people.

[@JustinaErcole]

Absolutely!

[@Cynthia-hk2oc]

I always grew up hearing that all we have is our health, but unfortunately as someone who isn’t super crazy fit but loves exercise and movement I always worried what would happen if I became disabled and couldn’t move the way I do, or even just financially didn’t have access to the same conveniences. So I began incorporating more types of movement, and just changing how much effort I put into one or the other. It sounds dumb/paranoid, but it makes me feel like i’m more “insured” and will already consider stretching, yoga, walking and or a dancing jam in my room a valid form of fitness. Because you’re not guaranteed to keep the abilities you currently have.

[@jessicaharrison4719]

I appreciate how you take the really short hot takes and opinions and give a much longer explanation of your opinion and knowledge. My unpopular opinion is that if fitness could successfully be boiled down to a few simple statements, more people would be fit or at least understand the concepts behind fitness.

[@jessicaharrison4719]

Ooh, it wasn't Pepper Ann, it was As Told By Ginger! I loved that show when I was younger, and that episode in particular is one I randomly remember every once in a while. I also got made fun of for not shaving my legs when I was 11, which led me to steal my mom's razor and cutting myself really badly because I just tried to shave without learning about it. And it is hilarious because now I don't even care if I have shaved anything, I shave when I feel like being smooth and don't otherwise.

[@JustinaErcole]

OMG YES IT WAS!!!

[@jennterry6977]

@@jessicaharrison4719 I did the same thing and then my mom was like, "now you know why you weren't allowed!" Lol

[@paulmartin7635]

So glad you highlighted the bone density benefit of strength training, hardly anyone mentions that. I have osteopenia in my hips, and if I haven't had a great workout, I at least know just moving weights around has benefited me. Loved it when you said about lifting heavier than all the males, muscular women are definitely sexy!!

[@JustinaErcole]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@melissajeannek]

I love cycling classes. It never been to soul cycle. The place I go to is NOTHING like what you described and the instructors are so helpful especially for someone’s first class.

[@michellesmirnova4471]

Your channel is too underrated man I enjoy all of your videos 🥰

[@JustinaErcole]

Aww thanks Michelle!

[@hannahhall5090]

Love how you approach controversy! We need more ppl on the Internet like you! It seems like everyone with a platform now days is just trying to convince their audience that it’s their way or the highway and they put themselves on a pedestal. I’m not a person who reads/leaves comments but your channel is just so refreshing. Please don’t ever change!

[@janemagistrado8577]

Can this become a series???? I love the information being spoken about in such a simple manner that is understandable and digestable at the same time. I know you have videos highlighting specific things and i do watch them but this this is just chef's kiss.

[@JustinaErcole]

I may have to bring it back since everyone enjoyed it so much!

[@vtheory7531]

An unpopular opinion of mine: we should have more fitness influencers talk about sports as a good functional form of movement! A lot of influencers I see promote a lot of weightlifting/gym stuff which is great esp for women who feel intimidated by weights. But I feel like most influencers say that you only should do weights and maybe one cardio session and that's the best formula for getting a nice physique. There's a big wide world of movement that's just as effective but doesn't get a lot of attention. For example, sports with explosive running like badminton can be really good to build glutes! Also martial arts can be great cardio and utilise movements that are unusual (and may require more flexibility) and arguably more functional than the standard gym lifts.

[@JustinaErcole]

DING DING DING! You hit the nail on the head. Functional simply means with purpose! There’s no one size fits all formula for fitness.

[@sarahosborne7477]

I agree

[@allie8442]

That is what I like about Natalie Oceane. She is such an athlete and has some fun videos with Olympic athletes. I would like to see more talk about stuff like just playing Ultimate frisbee etc. vs. training.

[@pati4871]

I would love to hear your opinion about protein powders (who needs it, how often should you need it, which one should you chose etc.)

[@JustinaErcole]

They're the only supplement I really use, and it's for days when I know I won't get in enough protein from "whole foods". I think they're a solid tool, but shouldn't be your main source of protein. Hopefully that makes sense!

[@MissMoodyMoony]

I had a really bad experience at a bar class, I was not able to do a move because of knee pain. I have joint issues so I know what joint pain feels like. The instructor told meI was doing it wrong, when I explained my knee hurt she "no, you just don't know what it feels like to work your muscles." I never went back to that class.

[@JustinaErcole]

YIKES that's not a good look

[@JanelleVreeland]

Completely agree on the need to refocus what kids do in gym class! I distinctly remember being chewed out by my PE teacher that I wasn’t doing “good” sit-ups and her saying “what do you think your mom would say about this?!” She was awful… and also didn’t realize my mom didn’t give two shits about whether I did a “good” sit-up. We spent so much time running miles, doing various cardio and sports stuff, etc, and yet spent so little time in the weight room where I actually felt more comfortable and like I could get better. If there had been a different focus I think I would’ve gotten so much more out of it.

[@JustinaErcole]

100%

[@sarahosborne7477]

I think they should have PE mandatory all throughout school .

[@JustinaErcole]

@@sarahosborne7477 eh, not the way they have it now. But a new and upgraded PE that actually helps people, heck yes!

[@jules9893]

Love this video Justina! As a person who loves fitness and as an echo tech who looks at hearts every day, I firmly believe that people need to start thinking of their heart as a muscle to train! It’s the most important muscle in the body, so everybody please get that cardio in! ❤

[@JustinaErcole]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@taylorpalmer894]

I love you and your content! I always leave feeling good about myself/ not inadequate. Thank you for being a voice of reason and positivity in the fitness and health world 💕🙌🏼

[@JustinaErcole]

And thank YOU for being here!

[@izalikah7616]

So much of this was dead on! The gym class physical fitness test is one of the dumbest things ever, not only because much of what they're tested on doesn't necessarily translate to real life for most kids, but because you're never actually PREPARED for it... it's just sprung on you at that time of year. So it doesn't do anything but make athletically ungifted kids feel shame that they can't do these things naturally. When I think of training glutes, I think of this: when I hurt my back and had to deal with sciatic nerve pain, literally everything I read spoke about weak glutes and how they contributed. This was confirmed for me whenever I tried to balance on that side. I'd never felt so limited, and I did what I could to strengthen them. It helped so much, and being able to move better overall will always be worth more to me than whatever is popular on Instagram! Please do more of these videos, I loved this ❤ Ps you look stunning in those wedding pictures! 😍😍😍

[@JustinaErcole]

Thank you for sharing your insight!

[@MajestyHammond]

Loved every bit of this, but you blew it out of the water with your reply to the Blogilates opinion!! 🔥😊

[@JustinaErcole]

Hahahahahah

[@emilyboulter5978]

I love your content and how you leave room for people to have their own preferences. It’s a fantastic type of video compared to a lot of the content I see (Cardio ruins your gains, stretching is bad for strength, don’t do XYZ exercises etc)

[@JustinaErcole]

Thanks Emily!

[@FrozenSunrise]

Yes, thank you for talking about ethics of what we buy especially in relation to fitness.

[@JustinaErcole]

You are so welcome!

[@christinatorressd]

Omg this is my third video in a row and i was totally confused when you talked about not liking running. I was like, "i thought this lady was a runner! " i got you confused with Holly Martin lol in my defense, I haven't watched too many of her videos

[@PataPtichou]

Well shit, the "bed workouts are stupid” one was ableist AF

[@jbgator123]

Haha I so relate to the shaving your legs in gym story! My unpopular opinion is that I hate hiit workouts 😬 more specifically, I hate most plyometric movements and would prefer to do a longer workout with moderate intensity, or steady state cardio with intervals, or kickboxing or dance where my brain is too busy trying to be coordinated, it doesnt realize im working up a sweat.

[@camillarich]

10:30 - yes! I was in a fitness Facebook group and asked how to exercise my inner thighs. All the comments were like "You can't spot reduce your inner thighs!" I responded ”I know. I feel as strain in my inner thighs when I lift my leg to sit on a bench to do other exercises. I want to strengthen that muscle so I don't feel the strain anymore." It was so annoying they wouldn't just answer my question but just told me I couldn't spot reduce.

[@jennterry6977]

Fun video! It's unfortunate that there are some people that avoid yoga because of poor fitness marketing. There are some great yoga instructors out there now that are more body positive like Jessamyn Stanley. I hope things start to change soon.

[@shelbysmith3712]

Yes! I love Jessamyn!

[@JustinaErcole]

Oh 100%!

[@jennterry6977]

@@shelbysmith3712 She's amazing.

[@anng2004]

I saw a little joke on pinterest a few years back that said something along the lines of 'if a vegan does crossfit, what do they talk about first?'. 🤣 To be fair, I think we all have a thing or two that we probably talk about more than necessary.

[@75JayLady]

HILARIOUS!!!!

[@Amy-jj8gy]

😂👍🏼

[@robmarsh918]

I love this.

[@darcyferrigno]

I think someone was just trolling on that last one knowing your opinion on Blogilates, HAHA. Also, the best advice I got in the last year was the tight muscle is many times a weak muscle. I have always thought I had the TIGHTEST hamstrings and would spend way too much time trying to stretch them. Once I heard that many times tight 'hammies' are weak hammies, i began to focus on training them correctly and they are SO much less tight and SO much stronger now.

[@JustinaErcole]

Darcy that's amazing and so true!

[@emilyesnyman]

This might change my life😂 As a dancer, my hammies are quite a nuisance because they are very tight Maybe I should also start strengthening them to see if that helps

[@JustinaErcole]

@@emilyesnyman You absolutely should!

[@sarahosborne7477]

@@JustinaErcole yes very true

[@DewelynC]

Interestingly, I've always seen yoga marketed as a way to become stronger mentally and physically!

[@JustinaErcole]

I love that mindset!

[@melahrens99]

I always love what you have to say! There’s always a science behind it and it makes working out more understandable and what needs to be done for my own personal fitness goals.

[@JustinaErcole]

Thanks Mel!

[@n0000nnaaaa]

I agree that if a workout doesn't feel right with your body, don't do it. Like burpees, such a good example! I do though find that some things are hard because I need to work on my form and doing them correctly and others are hard because theyre not good for your body (looking at you, hip dips while in plank position!) but a really good squat with correct form is worth perfecting (shout out quad dominant girls haha!!)

[@JustinaErcole]

YAS FELLOW QUAD LADIES!

[@pipsperseverance5593]

I absolutely loved this style of video! I may even go back and watch it again and take note of all the videos you referenced for a deeper dive into some of the topics!

[@JustinaErcole]

So happy you enjoyed!

[@breeze3364]

Haha! The show you're talking about is As Told By Ginger and I'm laughing because the episode where she shaves her ankles is the ONLY one I remember. Apparently this is also a core memory for me 😂

[@JustinaErcole]

YES!!!

[@madison_martin]

For Zumba, you can pay the optional Zin membership fee to have access to music/chorography and other resources like having your classes listed on the website (I think 40-50 dollars a month) but it's not required - or it wasn't required when I was certified with them. The trick is, if you paid for the Zin membership, your certification didn't need to be renewed. If you didn't pay for the membership, you had to do the $200-300 dollar training again to renew your cert. (Ultimately why I cut ties with Zumba because like the person who submitted this point, I thought it was a scam).

[@JustinaErcole]

Ahhh good to know!

[@veganaktivisten]

My husband is both vegan and into crossfit 😅 I also hate working out in the morning. I love to cycle around town after everything's gone quiet, or doing a dumbbell workout at home before eating the last meal for the day.

[@75JayLady]

Loved this one! I always appreciate your explanation and compassion! I 100% agree on the blogilates bit....cannot support a business when they sell insecurity

[@JustinaErcole]

Amen!

[@KathehFIT]

Dude WOW! that's insane about the cycling class you took. One of the 1st things they teach you when getting certified (at least with NASM) , is to engage and show how equipment is set up properly. Everything from the seat high and how your legs are supposed to be angled and the shoe clipping. SMH. Same with AFAA GEI.

[@ParamitaDevi]

i used to hate running but now i love it! it helps so much with depression. but sometimes i need to listen to my body when i'm injured or have too low energy. because running regularly requires dedication and mental power. also i love to workout in the morning at home. i don't have energy left to workout after office work and tried the gym for several months. now i quited and workout from home instead in the morning.

[@JustinaErcole]

Love that you found something that works for you!

[@ParamitaDevi]

@@JustinaErcole thank you justina! i binge watched your videos and i agree on most things too. most importantly thank you for the education. i really learned a lot and well informed xx

[@tanyalittley9701]

Thank you for quickly touching on how you hate steady state cardio. I too feel like I’m dying and my mind keeps Kelli g me to stop. I love dance cardio because my brain doesn’t realize I’m dying because it’s so distracted by trying to get the moves right. It’s this same reason that Taekwondo works for me too.

[@JustinaErcole]

Haha we're the same in that way!

[@GeoKuromi]

As a woman who got into strength trainings to lose those 10 extra kg i had on my mid 20s, i am now SO happy and proud of myself for the muscle i got! I started up wanting lean legs, and after 2 years of consistent training with weights, i am incredibly proud of my back, arms and shoulders. I feel so sexy every time i wear an off shoulder top cause I ve tried so hard to build my delts. So.. yeah! Women with muscles are 🤩🤩

[@ritasmith6781]

I loved this video (and your channel overall!) and how you handled/explained all of your viewpoints!! 💛

[@JustinaErcole]

Thanks Rita!

[@roxiw66]

As usual. Love it 😁

[@JustinaErcole]

Thanks as always Roxi!

[@genericplantlife]

I know this is a 2 year old video and also not tje point of the video at all but... that cartoon episode you mentioned about the girl who was ashamed of her unshaved legs so she shaved her ankles was from As Told by Ginger and it's a core memory for me too 😂.

[@mollyefthomas]

1) This video is phenomenal, and thank you for talking about all these things in such great detail! 2) I moved away from NYC three years ago and that doorbell sound just transported me back SO FAST. XD

[@JustinaErcole]

hahahahah the doorbell is a core memory

[@cjsfunbun]

This video was sooo good. I look forward to another with unpopular opinions. I enjoyed your responses.

[@JustinaErcole]

Thanks Carina!

[@veronikaholestova3373]

really great video! thank you for this

[@JustinaErcole]

Thanks for watching Veronika!

[@cmf1267]

Great video - but going to disagree with you (and maybe you misspoke) but no spin class I ever taught or have taken was steady state cardio. I always had a mix of intervals, climbs, heavy resistance, sprints, HIIT/Tabata drills. I also made sure that when I taught at the same gym 3 days a week we had a mix day (included all the above), resistance and climbs day, and sprints and intervals day. (and I always asked people before class if anyone was new or needed help setting up their bike! Love your information on functional training - especially now that I'm in my (choke) mid 50s.

[@JustinaErcole]

Totally fine to disagree! I’ve only taken a few spin classes but that was simply my experience :)

[@msJmarcus1]

I agree completely and was just about to comment this- cycling is very rarely steady state cardio!

[@stephkarto]

I'm going to give a bit more shade on spin classes being ineffective (says someone who is both a Les Mills RPM and Les Mills SPRINT instructor and who loves what she teaches)--think of this more like some of the challenges and risks of prioritizing spin as an approach to fitness: (starting with the challenges) 1. Spin classes often encourage people to keep coming back and promote that the more "strength" focused parts of a class--like a hill climb or something--work the posterior chain the way that, say, goblet squats or heavy deadlifts do. STEADY THERE TIGER--you still need to strength train. You can't replace that work with a component of a predominantly cardio-focused class. 2. I deeply, strongly, HORRIBLY despise any spin classes that have components of classes where you do upper body work or push ups while standing on the bike. I think it's really a smoke-and-mirrors game to trick people into thinking they're getting a full-body workout. Your form is compromised on the bike when you're standing up and trying to do push ups on the handlebars (too often people are dumping into their shoulders and setting themselves up for horrible, unfair injuries). And when you're doing "arm" exercises at super low weights--well, I see two huge problems here: (1) with super low weights, you're not doing any one kind of work long enough to justify the time under tension/low weights high reps argument and (2) while still moving your legs and trying to brace through your core to anchor the movement and keep the hip flexors moving safely AND trying to do upper body weights, there's so much going on to distract all of your movement and you're most likely not doing anything WELL. 3. Unless you're in a really well-vetted and standardized spin format that has some pretty rigorous standards for instructor certification, who knows what instructor you will get on the bike, what their preparation will be, and how balanced and thoughtful their choreography and coaching will be. It's a crap-shoot, if I am really honest. And to add to this: too often instructors will coach a class to ride at a certain gear or resistance level on the bike. Well, the way Level 16 feels to me on my instructor bike might feel differently if I were in a rider's bike two rows deep because maintenance on bikes isn't always focused on equal and exact calibration (I have seen this in mainstream gyms and boutique spin studio gyms). And on top of that--every single person feels something different on the bike. Unless your instructor is coaching you towards leg feel and body awareness, they're really not coaching you to work to your hardest (or to work through a build-up in an endurance phase of work). Again--speaking to how instructors can be a crapshoot. ::shrug:: 4. It's easy to confuse yourself into thinking that you're "working your core" in a spin class just because you have to engage your core even somewhat to move between standing and sitting positions and to anchor yourself in the seat as you're moving your legs to keep your hip flexors steady. Engagement and strength development are not the same thing. 5. TOO MUCH spin class can over-emphasize quad dominance, and unless your recovery, mobility, stretching, and strength workout game is strong you can too easily injure yourself. It really is on you--and entirely on you--to balance out the extended amount of time you're working your quads and hip flexors with glute work, core work, and upper body work. (moving on to the benefits--and something perhaps more encouraging) 6. a GREAT spin class can have really big benefits from offering chances for metabolic conditioning (think of working at an in-between gear that's light enough to hustle and move but still heavy enough to *safely* balance your body weight out of the seat and pushing to the beat) AND for cultivating fast-twitch muscle fibers that can support a person's athletic training (so think of when you have your bike at a light gear to push fast on the pedal and *just* heavy enough to anchor the hips when it's time to race/sprint/speed, whatever your instructor in your spin format calls it). There CAN be good benefits to complement athletic training. 7. It's low-impact to the joints, which makes it accessible for everyone. 8. When people are coming to the gym for the first time or just coming back after a long time away, I think the idea of a spin class can be hugely confidence-boosting. You're in a dark room with, for the most part, everyone facing forward. It's a safe space to begin learning spacial awareness, and it's easy to loosen the thoughts on "will other people judge me or will I not be working as hard as they are?" And since you control the resistance, you have a good bit of freedom to still do the kind of work you're supposed to be doing but also to modify the gear on the bike to what feels best and/or most challenging for your legs on any given day. (I'm not going to even go into what I love about Les Mills classes--this isn't an advertisement. I will again acknowledge that I am someone who has a deep, firm belief in that exercise company to the extent that I have two certifications through them and pay for quarterly choreography & music kits as part of my instructor agreement. At the same time, though, I know that each choreography sequence is backed by science, is done through a focus on consistency within the program and the kind of work that gets done, at a certain time in the class, to prioritize a certain kind of cardiovascular benefit, and I am OK with that. I will say though that my roots in spin class come from years of taking free-form spin classes and having an on-and-off relationship with them because of the list of challenges and benefits I have seen, experienced, and listed above) That's all! There's always more I can say--but this is already a freaking trilogy of novels. :)

[@maryssaann]

10:35: love this. I want to gain muscle weight. Full body strength training and calories surplus with focus on protein is all I’ve done. I’ll admit I focus a lot on my lower body but I already have a lot of muscle in my legs from competitive figure skating growing up. I do want a bigger butt to balance out my legs. But a strong upper body is my number one goal for 2023 💪🏻

[@CatalinaCamacho]

That was an episode of Ginger and it will also live on my memory forever because my mum also wouldn't let me shave!

[@JustinaErcole]

Hahaha I got my redheads mixed up

[@nintendobunz]

My middle school had a six week gym segment where we did a routine and it was the only time i didnt get an f lol. I loveeeedddd it. I wish we had a good powerlifting presence in my state so i coulda got a head start. I didnt get into powerlifting until i was 28.

[@juliabutler9837]

"You know what's also really good for flexibility? Strength training." I want that quote on a t-shirt. That's it, that's my comment.

[@JustinaErcole]

😂😂😂😂

[@Montana677]

Glad I'm not the only one who has a favourite delivery guy 🤣 loved the video, your views seem so balanced

[@JustinaErcole]

Thank you!

[@ayac3779]

Couldn’t love this more! And I’m also never buying anything from Blogilate branded tiny dumbbells from Target 😂 (they did good job making them colorful and cute…)

[@JustinaErcole]

Ugh they're so cute!

[@thereadingsylph]

I love working out in the morning but I really have almost no energy to do anything else after... I can't do my work I just need to lie down. Maybe its also the intensity. But I just can't relate with people who says working out "gives them energy for the day" 😅

[@MrsRight1122]

I just think people make fitness and getting in shape waaaaaaaayyy harder than it needs to be. It’s not really that complicated.

[@JustinaErcole]

I agree

[@sarahosborne7477]

Agreed

[@1024specialkay]

this is why i love you and Charlee Atkins!!

[@JustinaErcole]

I’m in good company there, thank you!

[@nessiemupfeki]

I really enjoyed this

[@JustinaErcole]

So glad you enjoyed!

[@loriallred4727]

Cycling classes don’t have to be steady state. I don’t do spin - I ride on a smart trainer at home on my own bike. I do HIIT intervals once a week on it.

[@JustinaErcole]

That’s great! I’ve personally never taken a spin class that wasn’t steady state so that’s all I really know.

[@MorkyMuffin]

9:53 think that was As told by Ginger, but, yes, I remember

[@JustinaErcole]

I was so close lol. They’re both red heads!

[@danielle4640]

I remember that shaving scene so much! It stuck with me my whole life, probably because I wasn’t allowed to shave either. In my head I picture it from As Told By Ginger. But it was sooo long ago 😂

[@JustinaErcole]

You're right! I got my redheads mixed up lol

[@laurlaur4298]

The ankle shaving was actually As Told By Ginger, not Pepper Ann, but was a great episode!

[@JustinaErcole]

Haha I got my red heads mixed up

[@thatonedog819]

One of my friends threw up during the mile and STILL got a D. I was recently diagnosed with POTS which causes exercise intolerance which means I need to really slowly work up my cardio - I've had it since I was a kid. Which explains why I always wanted to pass out in gym class, especially while running. And then I could barely function the rest of the day. My breathing was really bad the rest of the day too. I remember another kid having a major asthma attack while running.

[@MsScully25]

I took the Zumba instructor course (wasn't able to teach due to knee injury). Yes you pay 40 $ per month, however you get all the choreos, so you don't really need to put them together yourself- which makes it much easier to teach classes. As an instructor you have the songs and the choreos online and you just have to learn them yourself. You don't need to take a song and then think what movements you could do or how to combine them neccessarily - you can take the ready choreos which I think is a huge advantage because it saves a lot of time. A friend teaches regular dance classes and she has to do all that stuff on her own so put 1 hour of class together and this takes time too. So This Zumba Zin membership saves you time and you have hundreds of choreos ready to go.

[@JustinaErcole]

Got it! Personally, I find it way more difficult to learn someone else’s choreography so I would find it a lot harder. So glad that it works for you though!

[@shannonkirk8158]

This whole thing is great. But also: Blogilates quote >> your expression >>> cuts to commercial 😂😂

[@JustinaErcole]

Hahahaha I'm glad Google Adsense let me time that perfectly :)

[@jennicaharris9134]

I got made fun of in 7th grade gym class by one of the girls because I didn't shave my legs! Maybe it's a common experience.

[@JustinaErcole]

Oh it totally is!

[@diepantera1269]

I’ve been doing Crossfit for nearly 2 years now and it’s the only sport I was able to do consistently. I’m incredibly lucky that my local box has AMAZING trainers that actually focus on form and have the education to back up their training. I get that Crossfit has a bad reputation and that bad trainers and boxes ruin it even more, but if you find the right box it can be incredibly beneficial imo!

[@JustinaErcole]

I'm so glad you found something that works for you!

[@Thecozylittlehollow]

Most of my unpopular opinions are here already, haha. Great video! You were very respectful when you disagreed with an opinion.

[@JustinaErcole]

Thanks!

[@sarahlloyd5238]

Could you do a video giving tips on having a positive body image? I'd love to hear your thoughts ❤️.

[@JustinaErcole]

Great idea!

[@Glaleria]

Zumba translates to the whole world though, not just one gym…. That license also gives you acces to all the official songs and routines. You cannot call yourself a zumba instructor without it.

[@JustinaErcole]

True! I went off on a tangent lol

[@paperigangsta]

re bulgarian split squats, i used to h a t e them and all split squat variations since i started going to gym 2-3 years ago, they hurt my knees and i felt them in the wrong places even tho i trained with my pt. i feel very lucky that lately (last month maybe lol) i've overcome that!! i put some work into getting the technique better and strenghtening my quads and ankles, and now they're still challenging but in a good way! definitely not saying that will work for anybody else, just felt like sharing a small success that has taken months of work 💪🏼

[@JustinaErcole]

So glad you fixed the issue!

[@MichellePatterson-fx6iw]

I love running! Now that stenosis is an issue my running days are over.

[@figureskater71889]

Re: trends & fitness. Kate Moss and low rise jeans made me into the woman I am today... and not because I loved either...

[@JustinaErcole]

OMG LOW RISE JEANS HAUNT ME

[@hs2tablet949]

I am clueless about the term 'anabolic window'. Could you explain that in short terms? Thank you!

[@JustinaErcole]

Basically a period of time where your protein ingestion is optimized, aka you get the most benefits. Hope that helps!

[@laura.wiseman]

Zumba is basically true. Once you’re certified, you have to be in the “Zumba Instructor Network” to call your classes “Zumba” and to use the music. HOWEVER, you can use your experience to teach “Dance Fitness” per say, and just drop the Zumba label.

[@BrawnyKingFitness]

Highly agree with the last one. Blogilates seriously needs to stop promoting her oxygen curls and prayer pulses.

[@loreleiford700]

My version of prayer pulses is praying that I have a pulse after jogging.

[@JustinaErcole]

bahahahaha

[@TheBarefootRev]

I can't run on a treadmill. LOATHE it for exactly your reason: my brain gets bored. This is why I like trail running. You have to be SUPER aware of the ground (tree roots, rocks, mud, small furry animals darting out!) and I get to see constantly changing scenery. But this goes with my "I hate gyms" opinion. Really dislike exercise for the sake of exercise. Also why I have a horse, great exercise where the point isn't exercise. (And now we've gotten to a level of his training where MY fitness must match his so guess who is back doing exercise that is exercise. Yup. Doh.)

[@loriallred4727]

No one said you need to eat 6 small meals a day to keep that metabolism revving all day. That one has always seemed wrong to me (even though fitness ppl preached for years). I hope we have moved past that by now.

[@JustinaErcole]

Oh yeah, definitely not enough science to support that one. But some people enjoy eating that way, which I think is totally fine!

[@pegaseg70]

It really depends on you, your metabolism and your relationship with food I am encouraged to eat frequently because I have ADHD+ASD and forget to eat most of the time, don't hear my body's cues that I am hungry until I am ravenous and overeat 3 balanced meals a day and a few snacks keep me from getting to that point It also retrains my body to eat and send hunger cues because I have anorexia But I know some people who will eat 3x a day and be fine What suits you best is what you should be going for :) And don't hesitate to get help from a registered dietician

[@nmorris3471]

Cats in space = catstronauts Love this video! ❤

[@charlotteswab5143]

Yoga, barre, pilates are some of my favorite types of workouts, but I will never be lithe because I'm built like a tank.

[@JustinaErcole]

I mean… same lol

[@thedanceshack16]

I think the issue with Barre is that so many people jump on instructing it with no history or understanding of Ballet, which is kind of odd since that's where its roots lay.

[@JustinaErcole]

100%!

[@chantaldobson713]

Idk about industrial wise but my unpopular opinion is that running as part of the school curriculum is taught completely wrong. I was "taught" that I am not a runner in school but actually if they did a programme like the c25k interval training I would have achieved so much more at that time.

[@JustinaErcole]

Oh 100%! They literally just tell you to run with no corrections on form.

[@hals999]

I heard that pulsing at the full range of motion maybe has a slight edge? At least it was done in study about calves. Saw it on a short not sure I know how to explain it in correct terms. Lol

[@JustinaErcole]

Slight edge for what exactly? There are definitely benefits in certain situations, but it fully depends on the adaptation you’re looking for.

[@josepha5885]

Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he does about 200 crunches in bed in the morning. I've been doing that too. Although I only do about 80 or 100 crunches on my bed. It seems less stressful. on my lower back.

[@JustinaErcole]

If training like Arnold gets you closer to your goals, then that’s great.

[@IzzysTravelDiaries]

In gym class in Hungary we get GRADES! I actually got a brain injury when I was born and it's kind of an invisible disability, because people usually just think I move funny because I'm lazy or something. So I have coordination problem, like I can't jump much and also tend to trip while running. I also can't get a ball through a hoop for some reason. So I almost failed gym class, because there are no exceptions. My teacher started to give like pity grades for when she saw that I was trying. I got made fun of constantly though. I still can't run in public at 40, because in high school we had to run on the street around the school and some kids on the street would point and laugh at me.

[@JustinaErcole]

OMG that's awful!

[@chrispeterson9424]

So sometimes I’m late to the game on some of your videos a.k.a. this was uploaded a year ago! Anyhow, have you ever watched Michelle Briehler’s workouts? She’s closer to my age (just turned 50) and sometimes moves a bit slower, but some of her workouts are very effective.

[@elainekommenge1157]

Do you have any suggestions for good dance cardio? I have a dance background and miss it.

[@JustinaErcole]

Mine :)

[@lanacharlebois2017]

150 mins cardio a week...no question!

[@edus82]

Yes zumba - you pay for the music essentially, (it used to be under $30 now it might be around 40 indeed….if you don’t pay it, you stop receiving new music and lose access to the on,one platform. Also if you don’t pay you need to re- certify after a year. The training is a bit ridiculous for a training that is , I enjoyed it but it’s not much of a training, you just essentially dance for a whole day with some gaps.

[@mirensummers7633]

My unpopular opinion is that you are way more likely to give up working out if your goals are aesthetic than if they're functional or health related, because achieving it is so subjective and it's hard to know if you're making progress

[@emilyng2844]

IM DED I HAVE FABRIC LOOP BANDS to help me feel my legs more 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@loriallred4727]

I have a similar headband that I got at Athleta YEARS ago and don’t think they make them anymore. Where did you get yours?! It’s the only kind that doesn’t slip off my 5 head. 😂

[@JustinaErcole]

Junk!

[@Lexibcju]

I don't mind Bulgarian lunges. However, Currently 12 weeks pregnant. No bump yet. A week ago I did Bulgarian lunges for the first time in weeks. Oh, my! My first and only time I experienced pelvic girdle pain! Instantly stopped and put down the weights. From now on I'll modify the move to split squats. Agree, not for everyone, and at all points of life

[@JustinaErcole]

Oh yeah be careful of unilateral exercises as you progress in your pregnancy! You’ll want to be as stable as possible. Please check with your doctor or someone who is pre/post natal certified to figure out what modifications you’ll need in each trimester.

[@Lexibcju]

@@JustinaErcole My Ob said weight lifting is ok, didn't elaborate do's and don'ts. I know lady connected to my friendship circle who owns a local gym. She had a baby six months ago. I'll reach out to her. I'm currently training with Caroline Girvan, but thinking of following Sydney Cummings pregnancy workout series. That woman is motivating! Thanks for tip and responding. Love your work x

[@spOOkytimes]

Great video

[@JustinaErcole]

thanks!

[@GaaraSands16]

just wanted to say that i agree with your opinion on these opinions 😅

[@JustinaErcole]

Haha thanks!

[@SpirituallyInspired]

I totally get the "women needing to be graceful" comment, but yoga isn't necessarily a workout. Yoga is a life philosophy that has a physical component. And I think it's the type of thing where the more you do it the more "graceful" you naturally become. And like you said, the marketing of it has become quite problematic