If there is one thing that people go crazy and follow religiously all tips and advice flooding on social media, then it is about fitness or workout regimen.
Well, trying to get that notched physique or just being fit is a journey where you all will come across several myths and half-truths. How much to eat, when to exercise and when not - there is a wealth of theories floating around. Nevertheless, not all of it is true. Yes, there are high chances that what you are going about exercise may be all wrong.
Exercise is any bodily movement that makes your muscles work and requires the body to burn out calories. Staying active confers you with a plethora of benefits, both physically and mentally and even increases your life span. A fit body and well-built core is what each person wishes to have, no matter their age. Every individual benefits from exercise, irrespective of age, sex, or physical capacity.
Also Read: Functional Fitness: 5 Fantastic Workouts That Helps To Improve Core Strength And Balance
Read on this article to unravel the fact from fiction about exercise and then start working out smarter and more effectively to attain your fitness goals right away!
Myth 1:
Weight training means getting large
Fact:
Merely by lifting weight, you are not going to crack into a hefty, muscle-bound person. Well for that you must make major modifications to your diet plan and get expert advice. Weight training workouts can make you look fitter and stronger.
Myth 2:
Stretching prevents injuries.
Fact:
Evidence suggests that static stretching is ineffective in lowering the incidence of an exercise-related injury. But to stay safe, you may need to do warm-up exercises to improve blood flow to the muscles, which prepares them for working. Researchers also stated that warm-ups are to be performed 5-15 minutes prior to the main exercise to lower the risk of injuries in the muscles and tendons.
Myth3:
Fat can turn into muscle and muscle can turn into fat.
Fact:
One can burn fat and build muscle, just like the way you gain fat and lose muscle. Well, know that fat and muscle are two different types of tissues, and one cannot turn one into other.
Myth 4:
Working more cardio means you’ll lose more weight.
Fact:
Spending hours on the treadmill is not the quickest way to shun those surplus fats. About 3500 calories is equal to one pound of fat. So, to burn that pound of fat, you’ll require to burn 3500 calories. However, an average person burns about 100 calories per mile of running, so to burn one pound of fat you would have to run 35 miles.
Myth 5:
Early morning is the best time to do workout.
Fact:
True, working out first in the morning is the best way to kickstart your metabolism. Most people swear by the practice. A study published in the Journal of Physiology states that working out between 1 p.m. and 4 pm is as effective as working out early in the morning. However, it all depends on if you are naturally a morning person or not.
Myth 6:
Workouts should be done at least for an hour
Fact:
The efficiency and consistency of exercise regimen is what that matters and not duration one does it. Even if a person workout for 20 minutes daily, his fitness levels will improve remarkably over time.