Whether you’re a gym rat or just started exercising, you must’ve heard a few tips and tricks that could make your fitness journey more efficient. However, there are also myths about working out that could potentially hamper your progress instead of helping you.
A person may have passed these myths to others, and though some claim it worked for them, it doesn’t mean it’ll be the same for you. To be safe, it would be best that you should be aware of what’s the proper way to exercise and what’s not.
1. Treadmill Calorie Counter is Accurate
If you’ve tried working out with a good and the most durable treadmill, you’ll discover how effective they can be in losing weight. You must’ve also noticed that it’s equipped with a calorie counter. However, you must first understand that every person’s body works differently. You’ll also need to consider other factors, such as their disease or medication, that have affected their condition.
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Thus, even the highest-quality treadmill, a piece of equipment that presents a feature that calculates calorie loss, can’t provide you with an accurate calculation. However, if the equipment allows you to input your weight and age, it’ll present a general estimation of the number of calories you lose throughout your treadmill workout.
2. More Sweat, the Better
Some people believe that your sweat reflects how much effort you’ve exerted to work out. However, sweating can be caused by several factors and isn’t an accurate way to measure how hard you’ve exercised. More accurately, a person sweats when their core temperature increases.
Although your body increases temperature because the muscles produce heat, you need to understand that the environment where you’re doing your routine might be the reason why you’re sweating so much. Naturally, you’ll sweat a lot if you’re doing your routine in a rather hot basement, so this belief is a hoax.
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3. It’s Best to Exercise in the Morning
Though it’s undeniable that morning is the most popular time to exercise, not everyone has the time to work out every morning. Some people start their day very early, while others may have just gotten out of work.
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Moreover, starting your day with a good sweat is an excellent way to energize yourself. However, little evidence discusses its significance for weight loss and productivity. Ultimately, the best time to work out is when it fits you best. You must ensure that you can at least take your time while doing your routine to be more comfortable and motivated to do it.
4. Strength Training Is for Muscle Builders
Strength training helps reduce arthritis and back pain, strengthen bones, and improve sleep. In fact, the World Health Organization encourages everyone to practice strength training at least thrice weekly, and this doesn’t mean carrying heavy weights or any other intimidating gym machines. Instead, you can practice resistance exercises and utilize simple gym equipment like kettlebells or resistance bands to enhance your resistance.
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5. Muscles Can Turn Into Fat
To a more outrageous myth, muscles don’t transform into fats once you stop working out. In human anatomy, muscles and fats are two different types of tissue. A muscle can never turn into fat once you stop working out, and neither does fat to muscle.
Instead, what happens is that your muscles can lose their mass, causing the flabby appearance of once-toned arms or stomachs. Additionally, keep in mind that stopping your workout can slow down your metabolism, so burning calories may not be as efficient as how it used to be.
6. You Should Focus On Cardio for Weight Loss
Cardio is an excellent way to lose weight. That’s why many people add this to their routine. However, cardio alone isn’t as effective as you think. Focusing on running on a treadmill alone will keep your heart rate up and warm your body, but if your goal is to decrease your weight, consider incorporating your run with strength training.
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You don’t have to do both exercise types on the same day. Instead, you can train on alternate days. 40-minute cardio and strength training on alternate days are enough to help you with weight loss. Again, if you plan to combine the two exercises, perform the weight training before the cardio for a more effective result.
7. No Pain, No Gain!
No pain, no gain simply means achieving something by suffering. It’s also the same with working out. Others believe you must always go beyond 100% in working out to achieve your desired results. However, this is false.
There will be times when you’ll feel a little burn and be slightly uncomfortable. If you start feeling sharp, stabbing pain, especially in your joints, then consider stopping working out for a while. Just until the pain eases, it will help if you understand that body pain is one way your body’s telling you that there’s something wrong. If you continue pushing through, you could suffer severe injuries.
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Final Thoughts
Once you start exercising, you’ll ultimately discover your suitable regimen for working out. That’s why you must first learn the proper basics to perform safely and efficiently. Then, you can use this list as a guide to help you. Fitness starts with determination and continues with your will. Don’t stop discovering new things that could help you with your journey to a healthier lifestyle, and continue to persevere until you reach your desired outcome!
