Fitness myths that hamper your training results.
If you’ve been convinced that muscle weighs more than fat, you’re not alone. Many people are led to believe all kinds of falsehoods when it comes to fitness. It’s time to dig for the truth.
Here are some common fitness myths you never thought to question…
1. Muscle weighs more than fat
This is a bit like that silly joke: What weighs more, a kilogram of feathers or a kilogram of lead? It’s the same when it comes to muscle and fat. What is the truth?
You can weigh the same at two different points in your life, and yet have a very different body shape and body composition. This is because muscle is more dense than fat. To put it simply, fat takes up a lot more room than muscle!
When you start a new type of exercise regime you often gain weight. This is not increased muscle – yet another one of those fitness myths. This is your sore muscles requiring more water. The added weight is just water. So if you’re feeling sore, best not to jump on the scale.
2. Weight training makes you bulk up
This is one of those fitness myths that really worry women. In order to understand the truth behind one of the most pervasive fitness myths, read this blog post.
3. Ab exercises will give you flat, defined abs
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but no matter how many crunches you do every day, a six pack is simply not going to appear as the result. As much as we want to believe these fitness myths, they aren’t accurate. So how do you get gorgeous abs?
Yes, you do need to include abdominal exercises in your regime. But you also need to include weight training, HIIT type cardio, core training and proper nutrition to reduce your body fat.
4. Morning exercise is best
The truth is that there are pros and cons to morning exercise as well as exercising later in the day. The best time to exercise is the time that suits your schedule and enables you to be consistent.
5. More calories are burnt during exercise than afterwards
This depends on the nature of your workout. The truth?
It really is possible to burn calories for up to 24 hours after a workout. Aim for high intensity, short workouts that offer a combination of cardio and strength training.
6. You can spot correct (or reduce) fat
You simply cannot spot correct or spot reduce fat. Like many of these other fitness myths, there is simply no truth behind this.
7. Exercise can tighten loose skin
The longer your skin was stretched, the less elastic it will. Exercise, creams, vitamins, and supplements will not increase the elasticity of your skin and enable it to bounce back. So what can you do?
Exercise so that you build muscle beneath any drooping skin. Eat a healthy nutritious diet to provide your skin with the nutrients it needs. If all else fails, surgery might be your only real option.
I’m curious to hear from you. What fitness myths are complicating you exercise regime?