The truth will set you free…to exercise better!
Everyone falls prey to lies and myths on occasion. But if you buy into one of these and your exercise routine is affected by it, you could be in a world of danger. What lies may be affecting your ability to work out safely and with maximum results? Read on to find out.
Lie 1: Big Size = Big Strength
Okay, so the big guys are often rather strong (you won't see a lot of skinny folks lifting cars), but you don't have to be super beefy to be strong. Actually, too much muscle mass can make it difficult to perform certain activities. Instead of focusing on getting bigger, bigger, bigger, go for exercises that help you get in good shape, have good muscle definition, and retain your ability to move quickly.
Lie 2: Muscle Becomes Fat
Ever wished you could transform all of the fat around your midsection into rock-hard muscle? Of course you have. Unfortunately, you know you have to burn off the fat in order to make room for muscle. Likewise, the muscle you build up won't turn into fat when you stop working out. You just think it did, because any time you stop working out, you see unwanted pounds show up with such speed.
Lie 3: You'll Get His or Her Results
At every gym there are people with great bodies. Everything is where it should be and every muscle is well defined and shapely. To get the same results, you ask one of these model-looking individuals for the secrets to their picture-perfect bodies. You take careful notes and then attempt to mimic their every move in the gym. Unfortunately, what works for one person may not work for you. Every body is different and responds differently to various exercises. Since there is no one-size-fits-all approach to exercise, try plenty of different workouts to find out what works best for you.
Lie 4: Tons of Gym Time, Awesome Results
If spending an hour or two in the gym five days a week is good for you, then spending five hours every day pushing your body to the max is even better - right? Wrong. Overtraining your muscles and not giving them any chance to rest can actually cause your muscles to begin breaking down and going away. On top of this, you also put your muscles at risk for some serious injuries if you spend too much time exercising - especially if you're doing the same movements over and over again.
Lie 5: Slow Is Safe
Commercials that feature outdoor groups of people enjoying a relaxing class of yoga can be misleading. While yoga and pilates can be relaxing and slow-moving ways to get exercise, they can put your body at risk for some of the same injuries other exercises pose. So before hopping into an advanced yoga class without understanding what you're getting into, start at the beginner's level and gradually work your way up to the more advanced, demanding classes.
Lie 6: Form Doesn't Matter
Back when you were first starting to lift weights, you worried about keeping perfect form for each rep. But over time, you began to realize that form wasn't as important as just getting out there and lifting. Unfortunately, your epiphany isn't based in truth, because if you lift weights or perform other exercises without using the right form, the negative results are two-fold. First, you aren't actually targeting the muscle you think you are unless you maintain good form. Second, improper form puts you at great risk for a variety of severe injuries.
Lie 7: Genetics Are Everything
If your parents and grandparents are overweight and out of shape, it can be easy for you to expect the same fate for yourself. But don't let your genetics get in the way of exercise. Instead, understand that you may have to make some modifications (including what you eat) to get the results you want in the gym. You may even have to change your goals to better meet your body's abilities.
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