Health & Wellbeing

Stop Believing These 8 Common Fitness Myths! Right Now!

David B.

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Whether you're looking to slim down, tone up, or boost your mood, you've probably taken a stab at tweaking your fitness routine. Sadly, there's a lot of terrible fitness advice out there that could end up doing you more harm than good. Below, you'll find some of the most common fitness myths and misconceptions, as well as the real science behind them to help you meet your fitness goals in a healthy and sustainable way.

Myth 1: You only need to exercise once or twice a week to stay in shape.

Stop Believing These 8 Common Fitness Myths! Right Now!

In truth, working out just a couple of times a week simply won't cut it for sustained health benefits. Three days a week should be the bare minimum, but ideally some form of exercise should be done on a daily basis.

Myth 2: The best time to exercise is first thing in the morning.

The best time for a workout is whenever you're able to exercise most consistently. If late-night trips to the gym are your kind of thing, then stick with that. If you prefer a morning jog, then keep doing that instead. At the end of the day, whatever works best for you personally, will probably work well for your body too.

Myth 3: Puzzles and games are the best kinds of 'brain workouts.'

Good old physical exercise seems to beat any form of mental puzzle available, according to a wealth of scientific research. In fact, researchers have found that aerobic exercise has a significant and overwhelmingly beneficial impact on the brain.

Myth 4: Exercise is the best way to lose weight.

If you're trying to shed a few pounds, then don't simply assume that you can easily 'work off' whatever you eat. Experts say that slimming down almost always begins with significant changes to your eating habits.

Myth 5: It takes at least 2 weeks to 'get out of shape.'

For most of us, muscle tissue can begin to break down within a week without regular exercise. In fact, building and maintaining muscle strength and mass is very much an issue of 'use it or lose it!'

Myth 6: Running a marathon is an ideal way to get fit.

Not ready to conquer a marathon? No problem at all! In fact, you can get many of the benefits of long-distance running without ever passing the 5-mile mark. Running for just 5 to 10 minutes a day can provide you with most of the health benefits that running for hours can!

Myth 7: Keeping a food diary is a reliable way of controlling and monitoring what you eat.

This might be a great idea for some people, but many of us tend to underestimate just how much food we've eaten, while overestimating the effects of our physical activity. This can lead to some undesirable and frustrating results!

Myth 8: Sports drinks are the best way to rehydrate after exercising.

Most sports drinks are just a mix of water and sugar. As an alternative, experts recommend refueling with plain old water and a high-protein snack. This is because studies suggest that protein helps recondition our muscles after a workout.

Source: businessinsider