7 Common Fitness Myths That Aren’t True

Want to get in shape?

Slimming down to your ideal size and weight is possible and actually easy to achieve if you don’t let fitness myths stand in your way.

Read below the 7 most common fitness myths and learn how to finally get in shape the sensible way.

7 Fitness Myths to Ignore To Get In Shape!

1. Exercise ‘till It Hurts

This common misconception about exercise is not only a myth, but wrong and potentially dangerous. “Feel the Burn” is just some catchy phrase among fitness trainers and fitness gurus to get people to work out harder, but come on, if you are working out and start to feel pain, STOP! Not doing so can possibly lead to injury and as a result, can cause you to halt your work out routine for several days or even months. If you want to get in shape, be aware of your body’s limits and exercise at your own pace.

2. You Can “Spot Train” Areas On Your body
Another misconception people have as they try to get in shape is the idea that you can “spot train” or specifically target problem areas on your body. Sorry, but if you want to slim down your hips, you can’t just exercise your legs and expect to get in shape. To get the most out of exercising, be sure to do a total body workout that includes a mixture of cardio and strength training. Why only concentrate losing fat on your hips when you can also get flatter abs, toned arms, and a lifted derriere?

3. Lifting Weights Will Make You Bulky

I suppose with women this is a fitness myth that will never die. If you want to learn how to burn fat, get in shape, and tone up your body, then incorporating strength training into your work out plan has to be a must. There’s no need for women to fear strength training with weights because women simply do not have the testosterone levels to bulk up like a man. Besides, if you are looking to lose weight fast, strength training can easily do the trick because lean muscle burns more fat. Accordingly, the more fat you lose, the quicker you can slim down to your ideal size and weight.

4. Daily Crunches Will Get You Flat Abs

This myth is similar to the myth about spot training. That said, simply working out one problem area on your body will not get you the results you want. Sure, doing daily crunches may strengthen your abdominal muscles, but that won’t help burn the layer of fat that’s covering them. Not to mention, if you don’t do leg squats or arm workouts every day, why would you do abdominal crunches every day? Your abs need to rest just like the other muscles worked in your body too. Consequently, if flat abs is your goal, then a diet low in fat, high in lean protein, and regular exercise for your entire body can help yield the results you want and get in shape.

5. You Need To Eat A Gluten-Free Diet For Weight Loss

It seems like all of a sudden “gluten-free” foods are in style where some experts suggest that people should go on a no-carb or gluten-free diet in order to slim down. Unless you suffer from celiac disease, a genetic disorder that affects 1 in 133 Americans who can’t eat foods containing gluten, eliminating carbohydrates or foods with gluten from your diet is not necessary nor will it help you to lose weight faster. While there is nothing wrong with eating a low-carb diet, your body does need some form of carbohydrates (which are not solely found in breads and pasta) as part of an overall healthy diet. Therefore, don’t be misinformed about carbohydrates or believe the hype that a gluten-free diet will help you to slim down. Do your research and learn your facts first.

6. Eating Very Little Is The Best Way To Get Thin

As with a low-carb diet, there is also nothing wrong with eating a low-calorie diet. However, there is such a thing as consuming too few calories if you are aiming to slim down and get in shape. Eating very little as a way to consume the least amount calories (i.e. a restrive diet) can cause your body to think it is starving. That said, starving yourself to get skinny won’t work and can actually make weight loss very challenging. Therefore, since everyone has a different fitness and weight loss goal, it’s a good idea to find out how many calories YOUR body needs for fat loss (this can be done by using a calorie calculator). Once you find out the number of calories you need for fat loss, avoid going below this number to prevent malnourishment.

7. You Have To Work Out Every Day To Lose Weight

While it is recommended that people should get in about ½ hour of daily exercise for optimal health, it’s not recommended to rush into a fitness program after being physically inactive for years. Accordingly, the myth that dieters have to work out every day to lose weight is just that…a myth. As a matter of fact, starting out slowly on a work out plan is probably the best course of action because doing so can help dieters stick with exercise until they reach their fitness goals and get in shape. Plus, dieters can learn how to make exercise a part of their healthy lifestyle and stick with exercise long term! So, if you only have the stamina to exercise just two days per week, that’s fine. You can always gradually build up the number of days to work out when you’re ready.

Good Luck!

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