Seven Persistent Exercise Misconceptions

Although some old fitness myths, such as “no pain, no gain” and “spot reducing” are fading fast, plenty of popular exercise misconceptions still exist. Here are some of the most common myths of exercise that, unfortunately, still persist amongst so many people that we work with on a daily basis. How many of these myths have you debunked in your experience with fitness? How many do you still believe?


1. You Will Burn Fat If You Exercise Longer at a Lower Intensity


The most important focus in exercise and fat weight control is not the percentage of exercise energy coming from fat but the total energy cost, or how many calories are burned during the activity. The faster you walk or run, for example, the more calories you use per minute. However, high-intensity exercise is difficult to sustain if you are just beginning or returning to exercise, so you may not exercise very long at this level. It is safer to start out at a lower intensity and work your way up gradually.

2. If You Are Not Going to Work Out Hard, Exercise Is a Waste of Time


This kind of thinking keeps a lot of people from maintaining or even beginning an exercise program. Research continues to show that any exercise is better than none. For example, regular walking or gardening for as little as an hour a week has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. Think consistency, not intensity!

3. Yoga Is a Completely Gentle and Safe Exercise


Yoga is an excellent form of exercise, but some styles are quite rigorous and demanding — both physically and mentally. As with any form of exercise, qualified, careful instruction is necessary for a safe, effective workout. Use the help of a qualified professional when beginning any sort of yoga regimen.


4. If You Exercise Long and Hard Enough, You Will Always Get the Results You Want


In reality, genetics plays an important role in how people respond to exercise. Studies have shown a wide variation in how different exercisers respond to the same training program. Your development of strength, speed and endurance may be very different from that of other people you know.

5. Exercise Is One Sure Way to Lose All the Weight You Desire


As with all responses to exercise, weight gain or loss is impacted by many factors, including dietary intake and genetics. All individuals will not lose the same amount of weight on the same exercise program. It is possible to be active and overweight. However, although exercise alone cannot guarantee your ideal weight, regular physical activity is one of the most important factors for successful long-term weight management.

6. If You Want to Lose Weight, Stay Away from Strength Training


Most exercise experts believe that cardiovascular exercise and strength training are both valuable for maintaining a healthy weight. Strength training helps maintain muscle mass and decrease body fat percentage.

7. Overweight People Are Unlikely to Benefit Much From Exercise


Studies show that obese people who participate in regular exercise programs have a lower risk of all-cause mortality than sedentary individuals, regardless of weight. Both men and women of all sizes and fitness levels can improve their health with modest increases in activity. Any small amount of exercise can help lay the groundwork for a solid health plan focusing on fat loss!

This article was written by Bobby DeMuro, the Founder and Chairman of FusionSouth. FusionSouth is the premier mobile fitness firm in Charlotte, specializing in personal training and sports conditioning. You can find out more about them here www.fusionsouth.com