When it comes to keeping fit, there are a lot of suggestions given to us online or via word of mouth that aren’t always true. We get supplied with so much information that we don’t know what to believe. It makes maintaining our fitness seem impossible. While we can’t stop people from giving you tips that aren’t entirely factual, we can debunk some of the most common myths that you might have already encountered.
Working out when you wake up
If you’ve ever wondered if there’s a certain time of the day when you should work out, the answer is no. A lot of sources will tell you that you should always exercise first thing in the morning, but that isn’t true. The best time of day to get your body working is whenever suits you. Whether that’s morning, noon or night, it doesn’t matter. As long as it fits your schedule, you’re more likely to stay motivated and keep up the exercise. That’s the most important thing.
Doing exercise is best for losing weight
If you want to lose weight, you need to exercise. That’s a fact, pure and simple. However, you’re never going to make much progress if that’s all you do. It’s not even the best way to achieve your goal. Eating healthy and adjusting your lifestyle is far more influential when it comes to losing weight. You have to treat your body well for your hard work pay off, so remember that the next time you go shopping.
Weights are only for men
Who gave you that idea? No form of exercise is exclusive to one gender, definitely not weight training. Yes, it might take a bit more effort for women to achieve the same results as men, because their bodies don’t produce the same level of testosterone. That doesn’t mean that the weights section of the gym is men-only zone, though. If anyone ever tells you otherwise, then that’s your chance to prove them wrong.
You should have sports drinks after a workout
Sports drinks have become popular for many people going to the gym, especially those who are new to keeping fit. They provide a tasty alternative to water, but unfortunately, they aren’t as good for you as you might think. There’s more sugar in them than anything that’s actually essential for your body, and they can end up undoing all your hard work. Water is the best choice for a post-workout drink, and plenty of it too. You need to keep yourself hydrated, after all.
One or two workouts a week is acceptable
Staying in shape might be difficult, but you have to put in the effort if you want to see results. That means doing more than one or two workouts a week. To be perfectly honest, you should be doing some form of exercise every day, even if that’s just walking around. Keeping your body active is necessary if you want to stay in shape. There is no “tomorrow” when it comes to keeping fit – do it today.
Do sit-ups to get a six-pack
You’ve probably seen many people doing sit-ups at the gym, and all of them are probably doing it to get a six-pack. If you’ve ever looked at them and thought “better them than me,” then we can relate. It turns out you don’t even need to do sit-ups if you want to get a six-pack (although they will help). Planking has actually been found to be the most beneficial exercise for reaching this goal. It works the muscles all around your torso, giving you a strong core that you’ll be able to show off when you’re shirtless.
Two weeks of inactivity will make you out of shape
Sadly with this one, the truth is even worse than the myth. It takes just one week of not exercising to lose your shape, despite all the hard work you may have put in. This is because your muscles aren’t being used and so they become deconditioned. Going all the way back to square one is a nuisance and can really demotivate you, so keep that in mind if you decide you’re not in the mood to exercise one day.
We wish it were possible to have an amazing body without needing to put in a lot of effort, but the world doesn’t always work in our favor. At least now that we’ve put some of those bigger myths to bed you can go to the gym with a better understanding of how to improve your body.
