Happy Friday!! I hope everyone had a great week. When I was thinking about my beauty tip of the week post I realized I haven't done many health & fitness posts. So
I'm using this week to clear up any myths that I heard when I started
exercising last year. At first, I read tons of information on the web and it was so overwhelming and confusing. I didn't know what was right or what was wrong. After months of doing some serious research, I found that there were so many myths out there that weren't true at all.
FYI: I am not a fitness or health expert in anyway at all. Just a girl sharing my experiences.
Myth #1: Woman that weight train will build big muscles:
I used to think this was true. Years ago, my friend and I would go to the gym and the only machines we used were cardio machines. We would never go near a set of weights. We thought that was for people that wanted to bulk up and gain muscle. We were so wrong!! Lifting weights aka strength training is just as important, if not more than cardio. Why? First off, when men lift weights its very different because men have much higher testosterone levels than woman do. So when woman lift weights it doesn't make you big, it just tones your muscles. Plus the more muscle you have the higher your metabolism is which makes you lose weight faster.
Myth #2: If you don't work out five or six days a week you won't see results:
Another myth I used to think was true. If you work out 3 or 4 days a week at high intensity you will experience the same results. Plus, your body needs time to heal, or you can injure yourself and not be able to work out and really not see results.
Myth #3: You can workout a certain problem area (i.g thighs) and just lose the weight there.
Spot reducing is not possible. Even though it would be great, you can't lose weight in just one part of your body. If you're eating right and exercising you will lose weight in all areas of your body. Another thing, the first place you gain any fat, is the last place you lose it.
Myth #4: Eating less and using diet pills:
This is the one myth that I can personally relate to the most. In high school I had an eating disorder and I thought starving myself and taking diet pills was the answer. Yes, of course it worked at first and I lost weight but after a while it stopped working and I just ended up gaining more weight back. The diet pills I took were damaging my health and I didn't even know it (or care at the time). Now I realize the best way to keep weight off is by eating healthy food and enough of it. Starving yourself will eventually cause your metabolism to slow down and make it harder for you to lose weight.
Myth #5: Doing countless crunches will eliminate belly fat:
You can do a thousand crunches and the fat will still be there if you don't incorporate cardio. You need to get rid of the fat around the muscle for you to see a six, four or even two pack. I finally learned that after doing tons of crunches (which I hate by the way). As long as your doing cardio, strength training and an ab exercises you will start to see a difference everywhere, including your stomach.
I used to believe all of these myths and found out the hard way. So I hope this helps anyone who is starting a workout plan, wants to or just wants to be healthy!
If you know of any other diet or fitness myths please share them!!:)
