3 Fitness Myths Debunked!

As I was breezing through my cardio today I was wondering why in the world I sweat SO MUCH while working out. I am not horribly out of shape or anything and here I am sweating like a pig (ironic saying, because pigs don't sweat)! Well come to find out, I have an efficient cooler. Turns out, the more in shape you are the more you sweat! (Don't get me wrong, you can also burn a significant number of calories even if you do not break a sweat) Which got me thinking even more...what are some other common beliefs about fitness that are dead wrong?

CRUNCHES GIVE YOU A FLAT STOMACHWell, I used to think crunches and other abdominal exercises reduce your mid-section when, in fact, they actually enlarge your midsection if you are not combining them with some sort of fat burning cardio exercise (which can be running, biking, dancing, cardio workout videos, anything you like to do that gets your heart rate up!). Now, the same holds true for any other workout. You cannot "spot reduce" fat. When you get your heart rate up is when it starts to come off, and you do not get to choose where it comes from! You can build muscle that way, but you cannot lose fat that way.

NO PAIN = NO GAIN!Wrong! You could actually be injuring yourself if you are feeling significant pain during a workout. Exercising or working out should not hurt while you are doing it. If it does, you are either doing it wrong or you are already injured. It is best to stop, take a breather, and then continue the exercise. If you are still feeling pain at that point, the experts say you need to see your doctor.

WEIGHT TRAINING WILL BULK YOU UPWhile this may be true in some instances (depending on the intensity of the training), if you are a woman doing mild to moderate weight training you can greatly benefit from it. Women build muscle differently than men, and at a different rate. More muscle = more calories burned while you are resting = more weight lost. Win win win!