There’s so much informaiton out there about fitness and some things we see can contradict other things we may have heard. So how do we know what to believe?! Whether you’re looking for nutrition informaiton, correct form tips or ideas for exercises to target specific muscles, it’s important to ensure your source is reliable. We asked Dan, Head of Health and Fitness at Life Leisure, to straighten out 3 well-known myths in the fitness industry for us and we’re here to share the lowdown with you.
Myth #1: You can target fat loss
FALSE! Sorry to be the barer of bad news if this is coming as an unwelcome surprise! Working out can reduce your overall body fat, but unfortunately you can’t control where that fat comes off. The good news is you no longer have to spend hours doing crunches in an attempt to burn off any unwanted stomach fat. Just choose a form of exercise you enjoy, eat a balanced diet, and let the chips fall where they may.
Myth #2: Lifting heavy weights makes you bulky
FALSE! This is a well-known myth and has prevented women all over the world from stepping into the weights area out of fear of becoming ‘bulky’. The truth is, incorporating weight training into your workout routine can actually help you to slim down! You may be wondering, how on earth does that work?! Well, lifting weights leads to increased muscle mass, which leads to an increase in your metabolic rate, which increases the number of calories you can burn. So get pumping that iron! (Safely, of course) If you’re a woman who is new to weightlifting and would benefit from some guidance on where to start, our 6-week Weights 4 Women course is right up your street. Look out for our next start date in the new year or register your interest here.
Myth #3: Crunches are the best exercise for your core
FALSE! As we’ve already established, you can’t target fat loss, so crunching your life away may not get you the results you’re after. You can however strengthen your core muscles, which you should note is very different to having ‘abs’. Having a strong core can help you perform exercises more easily and even reduce back pain. To train your core effectively, you should be completing a range of compound exercises in your workout routine such as squats, deadlifts, and shoulder presses to really challenge your core muscles.
Surprised? Relieved? Whatever you’re feeling after these revelations, we’re glad we could help clarify a few things. If you have any other fitness myths you’d like to get to the bottom of, a member of the fitness team at your local Life Leisure centre would be happy to shed some light.