Fitness is becoming a raging trend today as people of all ages aspire to be fit. The reasons they have to follow a “get fit” regime may vary, from looking good to being healthy, boosting energy levels, getting rid of stress, and more. However, the benefits extend to them all as being fit is the key to good health, physical, mental, and emotional.
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Fitness Myths
There is a lot of fitness advice that you may get but unfortunately, all of it may not be good. With lots of myths and misconceptions circulating around, you may get into patterns that may do more harm than good to your fitness levels. Before you come up with some tangible workout goals and start working on them, here are some fitness myths and misconceptions that you should know about.
Myth 1: Working out once or twice a week is enough
If you are serious about your fitness goals, the first thing that you need to do is to have regime. The biggest misconception about a workout regime is that once or twice a week would be enough to achieve your goals. Absolutely wrong, because you need to be regular to get measurable results! The best approach is to do something every day, with a mix and match of aerobic exercises and strength training for holistic benefits.
Myth 2: Morning is the best time to work out
A common belief is that the best time to exercise is first thing in the morning. There are people who use this theory as an excuse and skip exercise altogether if they are not able to do it in the early hours. The truth, however, is that you can exercise any time of the day to be fit. You can continue your night trips to the gym if that suits you. Do not be time bound as you can exercise any time during the day to maintain your fitness level.
Myth 3: Exercise is the best weight loss method
For those who need to lose weight for getting fit, exercise only is not the right strategy. A common myth is that you can shed those extra pounds by burning off all that you eat. But the fact is that a comprehensive strategy is required to promote healthy weight loss. Yes, exercise is important but you will also need to watch what you eat. A diet comprising of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean protein and low-fat dairy is recommended. You will have to ditch foods high in trans fats and sugar. You can also add some herbs to everyday meals to help your fitness level naturally.
Myth 4: It takes to weeks to get out of shape
If someone tells you that you can take at least two week breaks between your fitness regimes, don’t believe them. There is a common misconception that the body takes a minimum of two weeks to get out of shape but muscle tissue can actually start deteriorating within a week if you stop exercising regularly. Shorten your break periods if you really want rest; even a day or two will be enough before you get back to your exercise routine.
Myth 5: Cardio always comes first
Another common fitness myth that should be debunked is that the benefits of cardio exercises surpass those of weight training. Cardio exercises like running do have a long list of benefits such as being good for weight loss, heart health, hypertension and diabetes. But doing too much can replete your energy levels fast and leave no room for strength exercises. You can start with weight training first and then proceed with cardio workouts for overcoming this issue. Have a tailored fitness plan that combines both cardio and strength training for comprehensive benefits.
Myth 6: Weight training turns fat into muscle
You may have often heard people saying that weight training can turn fat into muscle. This is a misconception because fat and muscle are two different types of tissues. Fat is the adipose tissue that lies sandwiched between the muscles while muscular tissue is found throughout the body. Weight training is helpful for building muscles but cannot convert fat into muscle. If you really want to get rid of fat, the best ways are to reduce the calorie intake and burn off all that you consume.
Myth 7: Lifting heavy weights can bulk you up
Women tend to avoid weight lifting and strength training because it is believed that these exercises can have a bulking effect. This is another fitness misconception that needs to be cleared out. Lifting heavy weights can actually help you to trim down because it burns calories at a rapid pace. These exercises, therefore, are as gender neutral as jogging and swimming are.
Myth 8: Keeping a food journal can aid your fitness level
If you feel that you can actually get closer to your fitness goals by maintaining a food journal, you are in for a surprise. People tend to underestimate the amount of food they eat and overestimate their physical activity. The best way is to take a day at a time and be a conscious eater rather than have long-term eating records in written.
Myth 9: You should not work out when you are sick
You definitely deserve rest when you are unwell but don’t go after the myth that you should not exercise even if you feel like. Mild exercises while having a common cold or congestion can actually make you feel better as it elevates the energy levels. Just listen to your body and exercise only as much as you feel like.
Myth 10: Sports drinks are the best way to rehydrate
Another fitness-related myth highlights the value of sports drinks for rehydrating your body post-exercise. The truth is that water is the best drink to refuel your body after exercise because it is a zero-calorie drink that hydrates you naturally. Most sports drinks, on the other hand, are high in sugar which does not favor your fitness levels.
Now that these fitness-related myths have been debunked, achieving your goals will be much easier. If you still have some doubts, your trainer is the best person to help. It is better to seek guidance from an expert rather than gathering it from unreliable sources.
