To help kick-off your post COVID health program, I thought sharing some health myths would clear the air and some misconceptions:
TOP 10 MYTHS – PART 1
Think you know the facts about getting into shape or better that your fitness specialists is up to date and not following the craze of latest fads…You may be very surprised!
It is so easy to fall into traps when it comes to working out and with today’s access to social media and magazines everyone is trying so hard to make their mark. Some myths are harmless some half-truths and some are actually harmful. One reason I feel myths get started in the first place is that the public is starving for new ways to stay connected to their workouts or gyms because sadly most truly hate to work out even though we read differently. So here below are some that I feel are truly way out there…
Myth #1: Running on the treadmill is safer on your joints, verses running on pavement.
Running is a great workout, but in can and will impact ones knees at some point or another and since it is the force of your body weight on the joints that causes the stress, I is the same whether you’re on a treadmill or pavement. The best way to honestly reduce impact is to vary your workouts such as walk one day, run another, use a bike or if you belong to a gym you have a variety of choices.
Myth #2: Doing crunches or working out on a ab machine will reduce belly fat.
Do not believe everything you read on those infomercials! Although I do believe they do serve a purpose of strengthen the muscles around your midsection and improve your posture your overall belly fat has all to do with your percentage of body fat in other words loose the fat then you will see the muscle.
Myth #3: An aerobic workout will boost your metabolism for hours after you stop working out.
This is actually true but the calorie burn is not as much as we would all love to think! Experts agree that although while your metabolism will continue to burn at a slightly higher rate after you stop the amount is not statistically significant. In fact, it allows you to burn only about maybe 30 extra calories for the day. Even with strength training it’s marginal.
Myth #4: Swimming is a great weight loss activity.
I would agree that swimming is wonderful for increasing lung capacity, toning muscles and even to burn access tension but unless you swim for hours a day it will not help you to lose much weight. This has to with buoyancy, the water is supporting your weight and you do not work out as hard. I often hear from many experts that swimming is that exercise that works the entire body. Truthfully, it really depends on how one approaches the sport itself. It is possible to swim on your back without exerting much energy at all however if you are swimming laps using a stroke such as the front crawl or the breaststroke you will use the muscles of your legs, shoulders, buttocks and more. If you are swimming a fast pace, like racing others you will experience more cardiovascular benefit your heart will work harder and faster in order to produce more energy. Therefore, your lungs will also strengthen as you breathe more and more intensely. I will say that swimming is a wonderful substitute if one has knee injuries and could serve as a safer choice for your body for daily exercise. Most important, if your goal is to bulk up for more muscles or additionally strengthen your bones “I” believe strongly that only weight barring exercises similar to weight training is your answer.
Myth #5: If you don’t sweat during your workout you’re not benefiting.
Sweating is not necessarily a measure of how hard you are working out but rather your body’s way of cooling itself. It is possible to burn a significant number of calories without breaking a sweat and there are some individuals that do not sweat. Everyone has a different sweating pattern. gender, age, fitness level, environment and weather are all factors. Women tend to sweat less than men. If you exercise in an air-conditioned room that can change your body temperature, it does not mean your body burns more or less, sweating is not a measure but length of time within your workouts is. In other words, exercise produces heat, heat produces calorie expenditure, and you produce the same amount of heat whether exercising in a cold environment or hot.