“We must not be hampered by yesterday's myths in concentrating on today's needs.”
In the modern-day and age, people have started prioritizing their health and fitness. This change in behavior has acted as a catalyst in the growth of myths and misconceptions in the industry.
People believe in these myths so strongly that it has blurred the lines between fact and fiction. Fitness fads appear in a cyclic pattern and so do the myths associated with them. The start of the new year shows an exponential increase in the popularity of the fitness industry owing to the new year resolutions people take. This surge propagates new myths and misconceptions.
The fact that anyone and everyone now has an opinion on matters related to fitness has not helped curb the myths.
The following article attempts to separate the facts from fiction and highlights the common misconceptions that people have about the industry intending to provide a clearer picture of reality.
Myth 1: One must always stretch before exercising
People are often advised to stretch before working out as it elongates the muscles and helps reduce the chances of injuries and curbs soreness after exercise. However, studies claim that stretching before exercising can weaken the performance. Also, people often overstretch themselves and don’t warm-up efficiently. The lack of proper knowledge about warming up and stretching directly affects their performance. Above all people, mix warm up with stretching which affects their overall performance.
Stretching loosens the tendons and weakens the muscles before a workout and makes them less steady.
Myth 2: Exercising on an empty stomach will help lose more fat
Working out on an empty stomach may seem like a reasonable idea on the face of it. However, it defeats the purpose of any diet and burns more muscle instead of the fat. It only gives sub-optimal results that have an effect for a very short period and can also prove to be harmful in the long run. Moreover, the lack of necessary nutrients and energy reduces the potential and hinders the result of the workout routine.
Myth 3: Avoid eating egg yolks
Exercise “enthusiasts” time and again advise people to avoid eating egg yolks as egg whites contain fewer calories compared to the yolk which contains cholesterol, fat, and bulk of calories. An egg white-only diet may be fat-free Nonetheless it stimulates the appetite and promotes food cravings. Moreover, it causes problems like insulin spike, energy, and mood swings during the day. The proteins, vitamins, and minerals in the yolk can help boost the performance and energy levels of an individual.
Myth 4: Targeting fat burns
People often start exercising to burn the fat accumulated in a particular area. Spot reduction is one of the biggest myths in the fitness industry. The targetted fat loss myth stems from the belief that fat loss in a particular area can be targetted by building muscle around it. This myth is widely believed as it appeals to an individual’s ideology of exercising and losing fat in a very short period.
Many studies have shattered this myth by proving that there is no statistically significant difference between body parts of athletes. Moreover, targetted fat loss or spot reduction doesn’t help as much as normal exercising when one is trying to burn as many calories as possible.
Myth 5: No pain, no gain
The myth suggests that if an individual’s muscles are not sore and paining after a workout session they may not get the desired results. Soreness is not necessary for building muscle. One can experience soreness during the initial stage or early days of their work out but with time their muscles adapt to the change and routine and the soreness subsides. It is not necessary to experience soreness and pain after every workout session to gain muscle and achieve the desired results.
Myth 6: Excercise machines are better than free weights
Exercise machines are designed to isolate and target specific muscles. Machines can be a preferred method of exercising when individual desires to tone their muscles of a particular part of their body. However, these machines burn fewer calories when compared to freestyle exercising. Free weights activate and tone more muscles. They are efficient to derive long term results. Ultimately a mix of both machines and freestyle training is advisable to get better results.
Myth 7: Running on a treadmill is as good as running outside
Due to extraneous factors, people have shifted to using treadmills as a way of stimulating outdoor running and end up comparing and mixing the results derived from both the methods. Contrary to popular belief running outside helps burn a minimum of 10% more calories than running on a treadmill. The treadmill belt makes it easier to run faster and there is no wind resistance. These factors make it easier to cover large distances without burning as many calories as one would when running outside. If used efficiently treadmill can be a great tool for exercising.
To conclude, before jumping to conclusions people must thoroughly research and understand the underlying truths behind the myths to separate fact from fiction. Myths may be an ever-existing part of the industry but with a clear mind, one can differentiate between the myths and the truth to achieve their ultimate goal.
Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe!
Have any other Myth to share? Write your comment below or send us a DM on Instagram @truthortales_
Very awaring! Keep going!
Great work ❤️