We have dispelled the 5 biggest fitness myths, discovering some surprising results.
Myth No. 1: You Can Get Rid of Belly Fat by Doing Crunches
Beeeeep! Sorry to burst this bubble for you, but, even if you were to do 50 sets of crunches a day, you would not be able to get rid of that stubborn flabbiness in your midsection. While ab exercises, whether you choose a device or just your plain, old-fashioned, laying down crunch, will strengthen the muscles located in this area and improve your posture, the pudgy bit will remain as such, as it has to do with the overall percentage of your body fat.
To attack this section of your physique and burn the fat that creates that undesirable appearance, your exercise routine needs to include both cardiovascular and strength training components. Packing a one-two punch with these two will set you up for a real battle again belly fat and other areas of your bod that need some slimming down.
Myth No 2: If You’re not Sweating Buckets, Your Workout’s not Worth Squat
Nope, not true. Relax. Perspiration is your body’s way to cool itself. During exercise, your muscles are contracting and with that, they are creating a certain amount of heat. That heat needs to leave your body somehow and the evaporation off of the surface of your skin, via your sweat glands is just one of the ways this can happen. The heat can also radiate out of your skin if the air around you is cooler than your body temperature. What if you’re exercising in the swimming pool?
Does it mean that you can’t get an adequate workout in water, where you can’t sweat? Well wrong, naturally. When in direct contact with water, you will still produce body heat but it will be absorbed by the water. When working out outside, for instance, jogging in cooler temperatures, you will get a sufficient workout although your body will not produce nearly as much sweat as it would be in warmer conditions, since it will be using radiation to keep cool.
The amount of sweat we produce is also tightly connected to your gender, age, fitness level and some other individual aspects. It is possible that some individuals burn a considerable amount of calories without breaking a sweat, while other may be drenched following a moderate walk.
Myth No. 3: No Pain, no Gain, Baby!
Not only is this not true, it is also a highly dangerous belief. The only pain associated with exercise that can and should be tolerated is a moderate degree of muscle soreness a day or two following a workout. The levels of discomfort will depend on the individual’s fitness level and flexibility. During a fitness routine, however, no great pain should be felt. If something does hurt during a workout, odds are, you are not doing something right, or some damage has potentially already been done. The common adage “work through the pain” can also be tricky, as it may contribute to one’s overexertion and clear the way toward injury.
If you do start to feel pain during a workout, stop, rest for a little bit and see if the pain diminishes. You may return to your workout if the pain is gone, but if not, continue to rest and consult your physician.
Myth No. 4: A Good Fitness Regime Equals Perfect Health
Ah, wouldn’t that be nice? It most certainly would make the world a better place, but, alas, a quality exercise regime cannot fix all our health problems.
While it will make huge difference in the overall quality of life, including the increase in our lifespan and a bevy of other super amazing things and benefits, many health issues still need to be managed closely by a physician and cannot be altered significantly with a fitness plan.
Though, while it is not a cure-all solution, regular physical activity is proven to lessen the risks of anything from arthritis and diabetes to different forms of heart disease, asthma and mental disorders.
Myth No. 5: If You’re on a Rigorous Exercise Regime, You Can Eat Whatever You Want
Not true. Well, actually, yes, you are entirely free to eat whatever your heart desires, of course. Just be ready for some not-so-exciting results. And, sadly, this has absolutely nothing to do with whether you exercise regularly or not.
Poor nutrition habits cannot be nullified by exercising.
While you shouldn’t allow yourself to eat anything you wish at any time just because you work out, some truth can be found in the fact that you shouldn’t gain weight if you burn off the excess calories that you consume. So, while indulging yourself with a piece of your favorite chocolate cake and then having a regular workout wouldn’t be a big issue, eating an entire cake and then waking home from the restaurant will not do the trick.
It’s all about the balance of indulging from time to time, while maintaining a high quality diet that will, along with your fitness routine, contribute to your overall health and weight-loss plan, if necessary. The accent needs to be on foods that will boost your daily energy levels and meet your recommended nutritional needs when it comes to vitamins and minerals, creating a steadfast road toward the strongest, healthiest and happiest you, you can be.
(youqueen.com)
