Myth #1: There is No Such Thing as Too Much Exercise
Fact: Too much exercise can cause injury to your body. Muscles need adequate time to regenerate and heal after a workout. It is recommended that you strength train up to three days a week, allowing at least one day in between for your muscles to repair themselves. However, cardiovascular training can be done on a daily basis unless you are experiencing pain. Listen to your body, if you are in pain, take a break to avoid injury.
Myth #2: No Pain No Gain
Fact: While it’s common to for your muscles to be sore 24-48 hours after a workout, or to feel a burning sensation during a workout due to muscle fatigue, severe joint or body pain is not normal. This is usually a sign that you are doing something incorrectly or have an underlying issue present. If you experience any severe pain, stop what you are doing a seek a professional.
Myth #3 Stretching Before an Exercise is Necessary
Fact: Warming your body up prior to exercising is necessary, however while stretching won’t hurt, it is best to do after your body is warmed up rather than before. This will be more effective and allow you to get a deeper stretch. In order to warm up your body do the activity you were planning on at a slow and less intense pace for about 10 minutes. You can also warm your body up by walking on a treadmill or street for about ten minutes.
Myth #4 Muscle Turns To Fat If You Stop Working Out
Fact: Muscle and fat are two entirely different types of tissue, therefore one will not become the other. When you workout, your muscles increase in size while fat decreases. When you stop exercising, your muscles begin to shrink- the percent of body fat increasing while muscle mass is decreasing.
Myth #5 Lifting Weights Will Cause You To Bulk Up
Fact: Weightlifting is an important component of fitness for both men and women, one which comes with many benefits. If you are looking to bulk up increase your weight and do sets with low repetition. If you are just looking to strengthen and tone your body, use lighter weights and do 10-15 reps.
Myth # 6 If You Can’t Find The Time For a Strenuous Workout, Then Exercising is Not Worth it.
Fact: Any amount of exercise is better than nothing and has its own benefits. While its recommended to make time for a workout, sometimes with a busy schedule that isn’t always possible. There are a few things you can do that will allow for some exercise without taking too much time out of your schedule. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk or bike instead of driving or do a few short workouts rather than one long one. All of these will benefit your body greatly.