Feeling The Christmas Bulge? 18 Exercise Myths You Need to Know

Whether it’s the latest ‘new diet’ or just regular bad advice you hear every day, there are so many mixed opinions out there and so many bits of advice being given that are just plain wrong.  Today we take a look at some examples of these common health and fitness statements that just aren’t true.

Fat is a necessary part of anyone’s diet.  Fat has many benefits to the body and helps with energy as well as vitamin absorption and insulation.  This doesn’t mean go out and buy all the fatty foods you can get your hands on.  You should avoid trans fats and instead have a healthy balance of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated fats.  Great examples include, olive oil, avocado, and nuts.

2. Crash diets work

A broad phrase you hear a lot.  But some people may need carbs later on in the day if they train in the evenings or if they work shifts. Not having carbs after 6pm isn’t going to magically transform your body.  It depends on various factors.  Again, ask someone who knows what they’re talking about.

When people make the decision to get fit and/or lose weight, they often stick to the cardio machines, thinking that this is what is going to make the biggest difference.  The first thing your body uses when training, is sugar.  This takes around half an hour on average to burn off and within that time, the body isn’t even focusing on fat as an energy source.  It’s usually better advice, if you’re looking to lose weight, to to start with weights and finish with cardio.

Testosterone is a muscle building hormone which is prominent in men, a hormone which women generally don’t produce enough of in order to build muscle mass.  Weights are a great way for women to tone and firm up their body.

6. Sit ups are the best thing for a toned stomach

Many people will do sit ups incorrectly and they only focus on the upper part of their core which is an area most people use a lot anyway. The areas you need to focus on include your obliques, lower abdomen and lower back. Sit ups do not engage these other important areas.

7. Going in the sauna is best for a hangover

This is a very common misconception. If you go in the sauna you won’t sweat out the alcohol, all you are losing is water from your body, which is something you need to recover. Alcohol is a diuretic which means it will get rid of the water in your body. People that think going in the sauna will help a hangover could in fact be making it worse.

8. Sweating means you burn more calories

How much you sweat depends on what type of exercise you are doing and how your body reacts to heat. When you sweat you are losing water not fat, it’s your body’s way of cooling you down. Sweating has nothing to do with fat loss or the amount of calories you burn. Some people just naturally sweat more than others.

9. You need to train every day to notice a difference

When people get into a new exercise regime they often think they need to workout every day. Your body needs rest and if you train too hard your body won’t be able to recover. You don’t need to train every day of the week to notice a difference.

10. Doing cardio before weights is best

If you start with weights you should be able to lift heavier weights as you won’t be tired from doing cardio. Moreover, if you have used all your energy up during cardio your technique may suffer when you come to do weights. You are also likely to burn more calories by doing weights first as you have the energy to put everything into each lift. Weight workouts will help you to burn off excess sugar and you will be using carbohydrates, when you do cardio you will burn more calories and can focus on fat burning.

11. All protein products are basically the same thing

Protein brands can vary significantly. There are different types of protein that companies use such as whey, casein and soy. They can also vary the amount of protein/carbohydrates depending on the purpose of the protein. Choose a protein that will help you to achieve your health and fitness goals.

12. To lose weight you need to completely cut carbs

Carbohydrates are an important part of your diet. Don’t completely cut out carbs from your diet, they are your main source of energy and you wouldn’t function very well without them. If you don’t eat carbs your body will begin to use fat and protein for energy.

13. The bigger you are the stronger you are

When you see a huge guy or girl in the gym, don’t assume that they are stronger than you. For example, bodybuilders will look much bigger than weightlifters but who do you think has the strength to lift more weight?

14. Exercise alone will help you lose weight

There is no point embarking on a gruelling exercise routine if you don’t change your diet. You need to do exercise to stay fit and healthy but what you eat will have a bigger impact on your weight.

15. You can target fat burn

If you think that doing exercises in certain areas will help you target fat burn you are in denial. The body doesn’t discriminate where it takes fat from and fat storage varies for different people. When you embark on a mission to lose weight you will be losing fat from all over your body. People think they can target specific areas because you appear to lose weight more in areas where there is naturally less fat. Targeting fat loss is physiologically impossible.

16. The heavier you are the fatter you are

So many people judge improvement based only on weight. Weight isn’t always an accurate reflection of how well you are doing. If you are doing weights you may build some muscle which is heavier than fat. However, your body might be smaller and more toned. Choose an integrated approach to measuring your progress. Make a note of your body fat percentage and body measurements as well as your weight will give you a better indication of your progress.

17. You have to eat lots of fruit to be healthy

When people want to eat healthy, one of the first things they do is stock up on lots of fruit. Fruit is good for you and you should have a few portions a day but don’t go overboard. Fruit is actually very high in sugar and some fruits can be high in calories. Vegetables have more beneficial vitamins and minerals and fewer calories than fruit.

18. Running is the best way to lose weight

Many people start running as a way of losing weight and get frustrated when they don’t see any results. You need to run for at least 30 minutes before you start burning fat. Running is also a high impact sport that’s not great for your joints. Weight and interval training is a far more effective way of targeting fat. Running can definitely be beneficial if combined with other types of training.