In our modern, over-connected world, there’s a wealth of information on just about every topic, right at your fingertips. When you’re looking for exercise tips, there’s no shortage of Instagram influencers, fitness bloggers and workout sites, all with an extraordinary amount of information about exercise. Have you ever stopped to wonder if all of this information is accurate? Here’s a helpful tip for you: it’s not. In fact, believing everything you read is a surefire way to derail your workouts and miss the mark on your fitness goals. We’d like to take the time, right here and now, to debunk some myths and explain why they’re holding you back.
Myth: Early morning is the best time to exercise.
Fact: Any time of day is a great time to exercise, as long as it works for you. Sure, an early morning workout is great for kickstarting your metabolism and amping up your energy levels to start your day. However, you can still get a workout that’s just as effective in the afternoon. Just don’t work out too close to bedtime, or you could disrupt your sleep.
Why this may be holding you back: If you’re not a morning person, it’s easy to get discouraged and think your workouts won’t do any good when you do them later in the day. Don’t despair! Exercising when it works for you is the best way to meet your fitness goals.
Myth: Stretching before a workout prevents injuries.
Fact: While it seems like it would make sense to loosen up your muscles pre-workout, research indicates that this doesn’t minimize your chance of exercise-related injury. A better bet is to do a warm-up exercise for 5 to 15 minutes before your workout to increase blood flow to the muscles and help lower your risk of injuries.
Why this may be holding you back: An injury sustained because you think you’re protected can disrupt your workout schedule.
Myth: Weight training makes you bulky.
Fact: Many women fear that lifting weights will make them look bulky and masculine, but this is just not true. Women typically don’t have the testosterone necessary to build huge muscles, and it would take a long time lifting heavy weights to even approach that look. Lifting weights is actually beneficial, because including strength training in your workout regimen helps shape your body, improves bone density, stabilizes joints and burns fat.
Why this may be holding you back: You may be missing out on all the benefits strength training has to offer if you’re nervous that you’ll end up looking like a body builder.
Myth: Cardio is the best exercise for weight loss and good health.
Fact: This is partially true, because a cardio workout does burn calories and improve your health. It’s good for our hearts as well, but the heart is not the only factor in overall wellness. Cardio alone is not sufficient to maintain the muscle mass you need to efficiently exercise. To overcome your body’s natural instinct to conserve its resources, you need to incorporate strength training into your workouts as well.
Why this may be holding you back: If you’re focusing solely on cardio, you may not be seeing the results you want, and frustration over this can derail your workouts. What’s more, you’ll be missing out on the aforementioned benefits of strength training!
If you want good fitness advice without the myths, come to a fitness club staffed by expert trainers. At the Wellbridge Family of Athletic Clubs, we offer world-class training that keeps up-to-date with the latest in health and wellness. At our any of our 18 clubs, you’ll be greeted by our friendly team before you’re challenged and motivated by top-notch instructors in our fitness classes. You’ll make new friends because you belong here. Join today, find a location near you, or contact us to learn more.