Common Workout and Exercise Myths Debunked

September 26 2013

Common Workout and Exercise Myths Debunked

One of the many hurdles of working out is trying to separate the accurate information from the countless number of myths and misconceptions out there. There’s a ton of misinformation regarding workout plans which ultimately makes the process more difficult. Whether you’re looking to build muscle or lose weight (or both), you should read the following myths.

Myth #1 - Crunches Are The Secret To Ab Muscles

Want to know the real secret to building lean, mean 6-pack abs? While crunches will set you in the right direction, it’s ultimately your diet which plays the most influential role in developing ab muscles. Performing hundreds of crunches and situps each day isn’t going to shape your abs if they’re hidden in a layer of fat. If you haven’t done so already, carefully analyze your diet to cut back on fat, sodium and calories. In turn, this will encourage better muscle definition in your abs.

Myth #2 - Gym Memberships Are Required To Build Muscles

Another all-too-common workout myth is that having a gym membership is necessary to build muscle. Some people assume they can’t build muscle just because they don’t have access to a gym. The truth, however, is that you can have an equally beneficial workout by performing at home.

All it takes is a little bit of knowledge along with the dedication and drive to force yourself to work out. A set of heavy dumbbells, for instance, will open up a whole new world of workout possibilities, such as a standing military shoulder press, chest press, lunges, bicep curls, squats and more. You can easily perform an entire full-body strength training workout only using a pair of dumbbells.

Myth #3 - Snacking Will Make You Gain Weight

Okay, snacking on the wrong foods will make you gain weight, but snacking on healthy foods will actually help you lose weight. The reason for this is because snacking promotes high metabolism levels, which in turn causes your body to burn off more calories during your workout sessions.

Of course, the key thing to remember is that you want to snack on healthy foods. Avoid potato chips, crackers, pretzels, beef jerky and other highly processed food ‘products.’ Instead, snack on things like carrots, celery, Greek yogurt, mixed nuts, fruit, etc. These are all excellent snack ideas that will satisfy your hunger cravings without contributing to unwanted belly fat.