Transcript Fitness myths

Fitness Myths &
Fallacies
No Pain, No Gain
This is not true. Many of the benefits of
exercise are achieved through submaximal effort. Pain is an indicator that
an exercise may lead to injury or
excessive fatigue. Exercising at a level
that causes pain would also cause
motivational problems in the athlete.
Muscle turns to fat when
you stop exercising
This is not true. Muscle and fat are
different types of tissue and one cannot
turn into the other. This myth comes
from the fact that when you stop
exercising your muscle mass reduces.
Sports Drinks are better
than water
Some sports drinks are better for very
long duration activities where the body
is working close to exhaustion and
requires carbohydrates & minerals. For
all other activities, water maintains the
body’s hydration and provides all the
requirements when exercising.
Sweating helps weight
loss
True, sweating can reduce weight
significantly over a short period of time
due to water loss. However, this will be
replaced as soon as the athlete drinks.
This technique should not be used in an
attempt to reduce weight and the
consequences of dehydration can be
severe.
Specific exercises can reduce fat
in a particular part of the body.
This is not true. For example, a person
cannot lose weight from their stomach
by doing sit-ups. Sit-ups would tone the
abdominal muscles, but fat can only be
lost by ensuring that the body is using
more energy than it takes in. Fat loss
will be distributed over the whole body.
Weight is an accurate indicator of
body composition
This is not true. If a person starts
exercising & reduces their calorie
intake, then they will lose body fat &
increase muscle mass. Muscle is heavier
than fat, so although the person is
achieving their desired result in terms
of their physique, it may not be
reflected on the scales.
Older people, pregnant women, &
those with medical conditions should
not exercise
This is not true. Exercise is beneficial to
almost everyone. Individuals in the
above groups, or those with a specific
concern, should seek medical clearance
and professional advice. There will be
some sort of exercise or activity to suit
most needs.