Myths of Weight training, Resistance Training, and Exercise.
Beginning a new exercise program often triggers feelings of trepidation. You may wonder if the program will work to further your fitness goals (i.e. losing weight, building muscle mass, etc..) or if the new exercise program will just be a waste of time. Most people begin to research the effectiveness of the selected exercise program by making inquiries. Usually this can be a helpful exchange of information. But sometimes, the information being provided can be based on a myth.
One of the most popular myths is ‘spot reduction’. Spot reduction is the idea that if you exercise a particular muscle group on your body, you will maximize the fat loss around that muscle group. Although it would be fantastic if this were true, it is not. Your body burns fat evenly throughout the body. It is impossible to select where fat loss will occur. Working one particular muscle group will strengthen that muscle group, but will not reduce the fat surrounding that specific area of your body.
Another myth claims that if weights are used during exercise, the body will gain substantial muscle that will appear bulky. Using weights in a regular exercise routine is essential to weight loss. By exercising the large muscle groups of the body, you will restore lean body weight and raise your metabolism for several hours after the exercise is finished. Muscle also burns calories at an accelerated rate. Muscle burns 30-50 calories a day per one pound compared to 3 calories per pound of fat. In order to gain substantial body mass, an individual has to train for many years and have the genetic predisposition. Bodybuilders normally have used some type of anabolic steroid to attain the muscle mass.
These are just two of many myths regarding exercise. It is important to recognize that not all information may be accurate. Before making a decision regarding your exercise program due to information received from a friend or helpful stranger, be sure to verify the veracity of the information. You could be inhibiting your potential fitness gains based on incorrect information. Weight lifting will help reduce fat substantially faster than just doing aerobic exercise alone. You may experience small weight gains initially. But that is due to muscle gains. Muscle weighs more than fat tissue. So don’t be afraid of using weights!
