Just in time for April 1st: A fact-check of the most common fitness myths

Posted on Lifestyle And tagged Fitness, Lifestyle, Lies, April Fools

There are so many unwritten rules, mottos, sports jargon, and incorrect advice online that it's hard to know what the truth is when it comes to fitness. Read facts about training myths here and don't get sent to April.

I'm sure you've already received fitness advice from everyone — from misinformed colleagues to Twitter users — so much so that now you don't know whether a lung or a lie-down is best for you.

There's so much advice out there that it's no surprise that we're confused when all the tips and tricks still aren't helping us reach our full physical potential. Stop when someone comes to you again with false beliefs and widespread myths — here are the facts about what is and isn't actually true in fitness.

Myth one: “No pain, no gain”

This is by far the most widespread, baseless training cliché of all time, practiced to the max by bodybuilders all over the world, and you guessed it — it doesn't hold water. Think about it, if this statement were true, no one would ever see an improvement in results after a pain-free workout or sport. There would also be no progress in sports such as yoga and water aerobics. However, if you experience pain when exercising, it is advisable to talk to a health professional or Holmes Place Personal Trainer to speak that gets to the bottom of it all. If you experience mild pain, don't panic right away, as there may be a simple explanation for this, such as an incorrect exercise posture.

Myth Two: Always Stretch Before a Workout

That is not entirely true. Although it's important to have flexible ligaments and tendons, static stretching can make them weaker and cause a person to become shaky. Swap static stretches for dynamic stretches, which cause muscles and tendons to stretch while the body is moving and not when the body is rigid. This increases freedom of movement and improves body awareness.

Myth Three: Lifting heavy weights creates more muscle mass

That is also wrong. Lifting heavier weights can cause the opposite result and produce less muscle mass. Working with lighter weights while increasing repetitions has produced better results for many.

Myth Four: The best time to exercise is in the morning

This is both wrong and completely impractical. How many people really have the energy, availability, opportunity, and happiness to be able to exercise right after waking up? The truth is that we should work out when it's right for us, when the time feels right to train, and preferably when we have the energy to do so. Your body will tell you. No one is going to reach their full potential if they're too tired or unable to focus on things other than the working day ahead. However, if you find the muse and time to train in the morning, this can be an advantage, as Show researchthat morning exercise can help with fat burning and weight loss.

Myth five: You can get out of shape in two weeks

That's a myth — it only takes a week for muscle tissue to regress. You may have thought that you were paranoid because you look less fit after a week without working out. In reality, your muscles really lose their density and are eventually deconditioned.

Myth six: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

Your mother doesn't lie - or is she? She and many generations before her have fallen for this myth, which was actually the brainchild of a clever businessman in 1917 - Dr. John Harvey Kellogg. Yes, probably the biggest profiteer of all time from breakfast cereals. New research from the British Medical Journal Report that those who eat breakfast consume more calories throughout the day. Yes, we've all been fooled.

Posted on Lifestyle And tagged Fitness, Lifestyle, Lies, April Fools.