5 Common Fitness Myths & Why They Aren’t True

The fitness industry is rife with half truths, false beliefs and outright myths. This has led countless people down the wrong path, with the result that they waste a lot of energy for very little result. Here are 5 persistent fitness myths and why they aren’t true.

1. No Days Off Equals Faster Results
When you exercise, you are placing a form of stress on your body. Your workout actually makes you smaller and weaker. In order to come back bigger and stronger, you need to recuperate, rest and properly feed the body. Training every day will not provide your body with the time it needs to restore and repair your damaged muscle tissue. In addition, training every day will not provide you with the mental rest that you need to maintain your motivation.

2. A Longer Workout Burns More
Long, extended workouts are actually less productive than shorter, more intense ones. When your workout becomes a marathon session you will inevitably end up running out of steam. As a result, your training intensity will taper off. If you keep going for too long, you may even risk injury. When it comes to cardio, short high intensity interval training workouts are far more effective than long steady state sessions because they bring on the enhanced post exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) effect, which will have you burning more calories all day long. 

3. No Pain, No Gain
This phrase became popular in bodybuilding circles in the 80s. However, it is a corruption of the truth. To benefit from an exercise you need to be able to feel it working. That sensation will involve the blood rushing to the muscle as it contracts and expands. This should be an intense but not a painful feeling. It is very different to the pain that is associated with a training injury but, unfortunately, most people don’t appreciate the difference.

4. Crunches Are The Only Way To Get A Six Pack
Not only are crunches not the only way to get a six pack, they are not a way to get a six pack at all. Crunches will strengthen and define the rectus abdominis muscles but you will never see them unless you do something else. That something else must involve ending up with a daily caloric deficit that forces your body to use stored fat for energy. The best way to achieve that goal is to reduce your daily nutrient intake and perform cardio exercise such as riding a bike. 

5. Muscle Quickly Turns To Fat When You Don’t Workout
Muscles cannot turn to fat; they are completely separate entities. When you stop exercising, your muscles will get smaller and you will probably put on some body fat. This is because you are not burning as many calories as you were. This may make it look like your muscles have turned to fat. The best way to avoid this effect, of course, is to maintain a regular and consistent workout routine.