COMMON FITNESS MISCONCEPTIONS

There are many generalizations, misconceptions, and myths regarding fitness that keep a good number of people from ever stepping inside the front door of a fitness facility. Below are few of these misconceptions and a description of how things really are:

Myth #1
Everyone is watching me and judging me while I am working out.
This is simply untrue. Although you may get a look or a glance once in a while, most other gym members are focused only on themselves. In fact, most of them think that you are looking at them. The truth is, everyone is there for the same reason, and it’s not to judge the other people in the gym.

Myth #2
I have bad genetics so I will never look like that guy!
Genetics shmenetics! Genetics are only an excuse keeping you from changing. The truth is you have more control over your appearance than your genetics ever will. If you see someone who looks good in the gym, more than likely it’s the result of the work they put in, not their genetics.  Anyone can have the physical look they desire… if they are willing to put forth the effort.

Myth #3
You have to spend hours and hours in the gym to maintain a good physique.
You do need a certain amount of time commitment to a regular exercise regimen to achieve and maintain a healthy looking body. But, there is no reason for anyone to have to “live in the gym” to stay in shape. It’s all about maximizing your time. With your job, you could accomplish a given task in an hour, or you could go slowly and let it take you all day. It’s the same with fitness. The objective is to get in, get it done, and get out. The “get in” and “get out” parts are easy. It’s the “getting it done” that takes the most time, and therefore, needs to be the most efficient. Having a pre-designed plan is the key to getting an efficient and effective workout. Read Spending Less Time in the Gym to learn more.

Myth #4
Hiring a personal trainer is too expensive. 
Although the cost may appear high at first, the value of personal training far outweighs its cost. If you spend 3 hours a week working out for 6 weeks and make no progress, what was the cost? The cost was 18 hours of your time, plus the time spent driving, showering and changing. This is time you have lost with no return. Compare that cost to the investment expense of hiring a personal trainer who will make sure no time is wasted. Check out the section Benefits of a Personal Trainer to see if hiring a personal trainer might be something you should look into.  

Myth #5
The only way to gain muscle is to lift heavy weight.
This is the old way of thinking. The new word is intensity. When you are focusing on intensity, it’s not really how much weight you lift, or how many times you lift it. It’s the combination of the two, coupled with proper technique and muscle control. The old goal was to lift as much weight as you can. The new task is to fatigue the muscle efficiently using a variety of techniques. This new method is not only more effective, it’s safer on your joints.

Myth #6
You should eat something before you workout for energy.
It’s the exact opposite.  You should always eat something after you workout. But first, let’s talk about why you should not eat before training. One, it may upset your stomach. Your body has trouble digesting and exercising at the same time because of the amount of blood required for both functions. Two, you lose out on an opportunity to burn high amounts of body fat. If you have an empty stomach, your body will be forced to use stored fuel (fat) to produce the energy needed to get you through your workout. Why do you want to eat right after you train? Because, as you are depleting large amounts of nutrients in your body while exercising, your stomach creates an optimal environment for nutritional absorption. This means that the food you consume after you train is going to be better utilized and has less of a chance to be converted to fat. 

Myth #7
The best way to get a flat stomach is to do crunches.
Crunches do help to develop a hard stomach.  The problem is, for a lot of people, there are a few inches of fat lying on top of those abs (they are in there somewhere!). Doing more crunches will not target the fat on your abs. The only true way to get rid of that unwanted padding is by monitoring your food consumption and performing a specified amount of cardiovascular exercise. Crunches are still beneficial, but they virtually have no impact on having a visible six pack.

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