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5 Common Fitness Myths

It's time to dispel fact from fiction. Here's the bottom line on common confusions.

by PrettyFit
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5 Common Fitness Myths

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1 OF 6

1 of 6

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Per Bernal

Fact Or Fiction?

The fitness industry is known for sound health information, yet at times that information can be inaccurate. It’s easy to believe when you have a significant amount of content coming from varying sources. With that said, it’s time to dispel some of the common fitness myths.SEE ALSO: 9 Exercise Mistakes Fit Chicks MakeThis article is courtesy of trainer Yami Mufdi of PrettyFit. Check out their sites for more recipes, nutrition and fitness tips, and to learn about their fitness products for women.

2 of 6

Salmon sesame meal diet

Myth: Eating 6 Small Meals A Day Will Increase Your Metabolism

It’s been thought that if you’re not eating several times during the day, then your body will go into starvation mode, which will make you hold onto more fat.Fact: The time you eat or the amount you eat doesn’t matter. Eating six small meals or three big meals per day will have no effect on your metabolism.

3 of 6

Woman Training With A Kettlebell

Shutterstock

Myth: Lifting Weights Will Make You “Too Big”

A common thought amongst women is that lifting more weight will pack on more muscle, making you look like a man.Fact: It won’t happen because women do not have a significant amount of testosterone, a major sex hormone that’s produced in the gonads in men. It’s largely responsible for muscle growth. Therefore, women are not able to put on muscle like men.  So ladies, get out there and lift some weights. It will help you build lean muscle and boost your metabolism.SEE ALSO: Why Weightlifting Is More Important For Fat Loss Than Cardio

4 of 6

5 Reasons to Reboot Your Gut Health

Shutterstock

Myth: Ab Exercises Will Lead To A Six-Pack

Fact: A healthy diet is the way to carve out six-pack abs. In order to see your abs, you must first lose the subcutaneous fat layer covering them up. Once that layer is dropped, start doing ab exercises.Try flexible dieting, it’s a popular nutrition program that focuses on enjoying foods while removing the stress of a restrictive diet. 

5 of 6

Exhausted Girl Lifting

Shutterstock

Myth: If You’re Not Sweating, You’re Not Working Hard Enough

Fact: Sweating is simply your body’s way of cooling itself off and typically occurs when your core temperature begins to rise. This can be caused by a high ambient temperature (under the sun or in a sauna) or through cellular metabolism and respiration (physical activity). Everyone sweats at different rates, so if you aren’t sweating while working out…it’s ok. 

6 of 6

Woman Hiking

Sean Gallup/Getty

Myth: If You’re Not Sore The Next Day, You Didn’t Work Hard Enough

Fact: Have you ever been on a long hike and been sore the next day? If you are sore, chances are it is from the fact that you did something that your body is not used to. However if you’re hiking every day and aren’t sore the day after, it’s most likely because your body is adapting to the workload—performing the tasks more efficiently.Now, in order to keep progressing, it is important to not get comfortable with the workload and to continually raise the intensity.

Back to intro

Fact Or Fiction?

The fitness industry is known for sound health information, yet at times that information can be inaccurate. It’s easy to believe when you have a significant amount of content coming from varying sources. With that said, it’s time to dispel some of the common fitness myths.

SEE ALSO: 9 Exercise Mistakes Fit Chicks Make

This article is courtesy of trainer Yami Mufdi of PrettyFit. Check out their sites for more recipes, nutrition and fitness tips, and to learn about their fitness products for women.

Myth: Eating 6 Small Meals A Day Will Increase Your Metabolism

It’s been thought that if you’re not eating several times during the day, then your body will go into starvation mode, which will make you hold onto more fat.

Fact: The time you eat or the amount you eat doesn’t matter. Eating six small meals or three big meals per day will have no effect on your metabolism.

Myth: Lifting Weights Will Make You "Too Big"

A common thought amongst women is that lifting more weight will pack on more muscle, making you look like a man.

Fact: It won’t happen because women do not have a significant amount of testosterone, a major sex hormone that’s produced in the gonads in men. It’s largely responsible for muscle growth. Therefore, women are not able to put on muscle like men.  

So ladies, get out there and lift some weights. It will help you build lean muscle and boost your metabolism.

SEE ALSO: Why Weightlifting Is More Important For Fat Loss Than Cardio

Myth: Ab Exercises Will Lead To A Six-Pack

Fact: A healthy diet is the way to carve out six-pack abs. In order to see your abs, you must first lose the subcutaneous fat layer covering them up. Once that layer is dropped, start doing ab exercises.

Try flexible dieting, it’s a popular nutrition program that focuses on enjoying foods while removing the stress of a restrictive diet. 

Myth: If You're Not Sweating, You're Not Working Hard Enough

Fact: Sweating is simply your body’s way of cooling itself off and typically occurs when your core temperature begins to rise. This can be caused by a high ambient temperature (under the sun or in a sauna) or through cellular metabolism and respiration (physical activity). 

Everyone sweats at different rates, so if you aren’t sweating while working out…it’s ok. 

Myth: If You're Not Sore The Next Day, You Didn't Work Hard Enough

Fact: Have you ever been on a long hike and been sore the next day? If you are sore, chances are it is from the fact that you did something that your body is not used to. However if you’re hiking every day and aren’t sore the day after, it’s most likely because your body is adapting to the workload—performing the tasks more efficiently.

Now, in order to keep progressing, it is important to not get comfortable with the workload and to continually raise the intensity.

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Written by PrettyFit
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