10 Exercise Myths we thought were True

Think we are a pro when it comes to exercise and fitness? Happy realization people! I have just picked up the top 10 exercise myths that we were probably fed ever since we started working on.

Morning Cardio on an empty stomach helps shed more fat:

Probably one of the most dangerous exercise myths, working out in the morning on an empty stomach does anything but get us fit. In fact, it may even affect our workout regimen. Working out on an empty stomach de-energizes us and tends to make us feel lethargic and tired. Also, we are more likely to ‘hit a wall’ if the workout interfaces with our daily activities and we will tend to find ways and skip workouts.

Women who weight train become more masculine and muscular:

Many women avoid weight training as they are afraid of looking muscular and ‘manly’. The truth is, however, that merely weight lifting alone is not responsible for the muscular appearance. Testosterone, a male hormone, is essential for the hyper- muscular look and women have this in very small quantities. So don’t shy away from the dumbbells any more.

Muscle weight more than Fat:

Some exercise trainers often tell their concerned clients that the reason their weigh scale doesn’t go down, is because muscle weighs higher than fat. Truth is, one kilo of fat equals one kilo of muscle. Or one kilo of practically anything!

Stretching before exercise is the Best:

Heard our trainer say that stretching reduces chances of an injury or improve our performance. But actually, it’s the other way round. Many studies show that stretching for a considerable time before exercising tends to reduce muscle force and power. Stretching is best done after workout.

The more exercise, the better:

Yet another serious mistake most people make in an attempt to shed the kilos faster. We may lose weight, but we may also lose muscle, and overworking it may have serious impact on our health too. A proper diet, adequate rest and moderate exercise gradually burn fat, and stimulate healthy muscle build-up.

Low- intensity exercise burns more fat:

In general, low intensity exercise has its place – it is less stressful on joints. The myth is that is we exercise too intensely; we end up burning up carbohydrates instead of fat. It's the most dangerous type of myth because there's a kernel of truth in it.

The more intensely we exercise the higher proportion of carbs we burn. We may burn less fat, but the total amount of calories burned is higher and that is the bigger picture. When our body has burned up all the carbs, it starts burning fat.

We need to exercise only if we need to burn weight:

Skinny people, it’s time to pay attention. There are a huge number of studies that confirm the fact that physical activity is essential for the maintenance of good health. People who are skinny or ‘healthy’ also need moderate physical activity daily. Devoid of regular exercise, you’re more likely to be prone to different lifestyle-related conditions, including heart disease and diabetes.

Spot reducing is possible:

We may have crunched in vain. We won't see muscle definition or a nice six-pack despite how many crunches you do, because of the layer of fat resting on top of our muscles. When we exercise, we lose a bit of fat from all over. So if all those exercises and products which promise reduction on our abs, thighs, waists etc.  sound too good to be true, they probably are.

Yoga is Completely Gentle and Safe: 

Yoga is an excellent form of exercise, but some styles are quite rigorous and demanding both physically and mentally. As with any form of exercise, qualified, careful instruction is necessary for a safe, effective workout.

We can eat anything we want, as long as we exercise:

One of the most common misconceptions of all times, following this myth can be potentially dangerous. Studies show that not all the fat we take in through junk food shows up on the surface; some amount tends to get deposited on the body organs as visceral fat, which is highly dangerous to your health. It’s okay to indulge once in a while, but if you practically live on junk food, it’s time to make serious changes to our diet.