5 Myths About Working Out: Busted
1. “You have to work out for hours to see the good results.”
This is one of the biggest myths about working out! You don’t have to spend hours at the gym to see results. In fact, you can see significant results by working out for just 30-60 minutes a day, three times a week. The key is to find an activity that you enjoy and to make it a part of your regular routine. If you want to have a 2 hour workout, then you can totally do that too! Just make sure you are eating to fuel that workout and taking proper rest and active recovery days.
2. “You’ll get ‘bulky’ if you lift weights.”
This is actually one of the top concerns that I get when we have new people join our gym. It’s actually extremely difficult to “get too bulky” if you are a female lifting weights. 99.99% of the time, lifting weights will sculpt and tone your body and you’ll end up being happy that you have a strong body that can support the life you live! It’ll also boost your mood!
3. “Weighing less means you’re healthier.”
NO! You have to remember that sometimes your ideal body that you have in mind and are striving for will not equal the number that you have in mind on the scale. For example, muscle weighs more than fat. So, if you want to gain lots of muscles, you’ll probably be putting on some pounds in return, which is a-okay! I highly recommend not relying on the scale and going off of how your body is feeling and striving for performance over aesthetics. If you do have a weight goal though, by all means chase those goals! Just know that the number does not define your progress all the time.
4. “You have to workout every day to see results.”
Again, this is a myth! You don’t have to work out every day to see results. In fact, working out too often can actually lead to burnout and injuries. It’s important to find a balance that works for you and stick with it. I recommend 1 active recovery day and 1 rest day per week. The full rest day doesn’t mean just sitting on the couch for 24 hours though, try to get a nice walk in, maybe head to the dog park, or do some fun exploring around your town!
5. “Cardio is the best and only way to lose weight.”
Cardio can be an effective way to lose weight, but it’s not the only way. Strength training can also help you lose weight by increasing your muscle mass. Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue, so the more muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn even when you’re at rest. So, lift some weights!
6. “You have to do intense workouts to see results.”
Intense workouts can certainly help you see results faster, and it can aid in your performance in the gym, but they’re not necessary for everyone. If you’re just starting out or if you’re not used to exercising regularly, then it’s best to start slow and gradually increase the intensity of your workouts as your fitness level improves. Scale the intensity so that it’s suitable to YOU! :)