Have you ever gotten some “free advice” from some quack in the gym that swore he was the ultimate fitness guru? Or maybe your kids came home and told you that their coach gave them some advice. In any case it has to be true right? Lets take a step back and think about this for a second. Rumors spread like wildfire, so it’s easy to hear the same thing from multiple. That can be a very convincing sign that something is true.
Do your own research and learn about these “facts”. Here are 5 fitness myths debunked, that may clarify some rumors you have heard about health and fitness. You also have to realize that not everyone reacts the same to the same foods and exercises. In some cases these myths may be harmless half-truths that you must test out on your own.
1 – Doing Ab Exercises Will Get Rid Of Belly Fat
False. The only thing that ab exercises do are strengthen the abdominal muscles. The abs may get bigger if you train them for hypertrophy, and subsequently be more noticeable through the fat. Working a specific muscle will never burn the fat that is stored on top of it. Your DNA tells the body where the major fat storing zones on your body will be. For some people that may be the hips, stomach, or arms. The only answer is to do full body exercises that burns lots of fat and calories for energy. Don’t get me wrong, doing resistance training for those problem areas is important so that you can strengthen the muscle under the fat layer. That will help to make those problem areas more firm.
2 – Running On A Treadmill Is Better For Your Knees Than Pavement
False. Treadmills and even grass have a little more give than completely solid pavement. In any case your body weight is what pounds onto your knee joint every time you land on the ground. Running is a very effective exercise for burning calories so it’s important to keep your knees strong. The best solution is to vary your cardio workouts. Don’t just run everyday. Go for a swim, bike, or use an elliptical. Also, make sure you run on the balls of your feet to absorb some of the contact with any surface.
3 – Strict Vegetarian Diet Is Healthier Than A Meat Inclusive Diet
Half truth. Yes, eating vegetables is one of the healthiest things that you can do. But cutting a food group completely out of your diet may not be such a good idea. Meat products provide iron, B vitamins, creatine, and protein. Studies have recently shown that creatine helps in cognitive health as we get older. Iron has been shown to help decrease postpartum depression in women. B vitamins and iron provide energy to our bodies.
If you choose to eat a vegetarian diet it is important to find ways to intake those nutrients through other sources. Eggs and dairy products are a good option. They provide protein and numerous other nutrients. Beans and lentils also provide some of what you will lack without meats.
4 – If You’re Not Sweating You Aren’t Working Hard Enough
False.Using sweat as a measure of energy expenditure is very misleading. Sweat is simply your body’s way to cool itself down. Everyone has different sweat glands. Personally, I sweat just getting out of bed in the morning. One of my friends could probably run a whole marathon without a drop. Granted, at higher intensities of training you are far more likely to sweat more. Never judge the effectiveness of exercises or workouts by how much you sweat. That’s simply foolish.
5 – Swimming Is One Of The Best Things You Can Do For Weight Loss
Half truth. Swimming has an extremely wide range of effectiveness for fitness. On one hand you don’t have to work as hard because you don’t have to support yourself. Water keeps us buoyant. On the other hand if you swim consistently at a good pace it will tone your muscles and increase your lung capacity. It is a great way to exercise for people with joint pain and arthritis. If you don’t stay focused it may be tempting to just sit and relax in the water. If you are planning on swimming as a workout then make sure you are pushing yourself to swim as many laps as you can in a certain amount of time.
There are lots of fitness myths floating around out there. These 5 fitness myths debunked just scratch the surface. There are many more that we will break down soon. If you are interested, just check back in everyday. If you liked this post please share it with your friends on facebook.
About Adam Pegg
