In this day and age, it is hard to find good sources of information. You can Google a question and get contradicting answers from “reputable” sources. Sometimes separating fact from fiction is hard to do. When it comes to exercising and working out, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there. Many of these have been ingrained in our culture for as long as people have been trying to lose weight and build muscle.
But, don’t worry. If you’ve been hearing some contradicting information lately, we’re here to set the record straight. In today’s blog, we’ll be busting six common myths about working out and discussing everything from recovery powders to losing fat. Keep reading to learn the truth behind these common exercise myths.
Myth: If you’re not sore, you didn’t get a good workout.
We often consider soreness after a gym session as a sign that we worked our bodies and made progress. Soreness only means that you put significant strain on a muscle or group of muscles (or, you could be injured). In fact, soreness is a sign that your muscles are not fully recovered from a workout, signaling that you might need a better post-workout recovery powder.
Myth: The more you sweat, the harder you worked.
Sweating is the result of your core body temperature rising, and some people are predisposed to sweat more than others. Sweat can be an indicator of a hard workout, but a lack of sweat doesn’t mean you didn’t get a great workout. Also, the environment you work out in will affect the amount of perceived sweat. For example, going for a run outside on a cold, dry winter’s night will produce less sweat than running on a hot, humid day.
Myth: Cardio is the only way to lose weight.
Weight loss happens when you have a deficit of calories. This can be either through eating fewer calories than your body naturally uses throughout the day or working out to burn additional calories. Cardio burns calories, but so does weight lifting and resistance training. Using a combination of both can help you lose fat while creating a more toned body, improving your overall results.
Myth: You can get a six-pack by doing crunches.
This one is actually kind of true! Crunches and ab workouts can give you that six-pack you’ve always dreamed of, but whether or not people will see it is another story. We all have the same muscles, but how defined they are largely depends on how big the muscles are and how much fat is covering them. For that reason, to show off your six pack at the beach this summer, it’s important to also burn any lingering fat around the belly.
Myth: Lifting will make you bulky.
Many people, both men and women, are afraid to lift heavy because they think it will make them bulky. Lifting is actually a great way to burn fat, get toned, and develop long and lean muscles. Sure, you can bulk up by lifting, but it won’t happen overnight. When you start lifting and strength training, you will see results that include toned muscles and fat loss long before you look like The Incredible Hulk.
Myth: Sports drinks are good for recovery.
Sports drinks are full of sugar and sodium. After a workout, you do need to replenish electrolytes and sodium is technically an electrolyte. However, the Western diet is already so loaded with salt and sodium that the need to replenish it is moot. Instead, find a recovery drink that isn’t packed with sugar and has a broader range of electrolytes including potassium, calcium, chloride, and magnesium. (Hint: Our post-workout recovery powders check a lot of these boxes.) If you’ve lost a lot of fluids from an illness, a sugary sports drink might help but it shouldn't be your go-to recovery drink.
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