To successfully reach our health goals, we need to know if we’re off to the right start. Test yourself with this quiz to see how you measure up!
Myth:
Doing crunches and abdominal exercises alone will get rid of belly fat.
Answer:
False. Doing crunches alone will not burn belly fat. The two biggest weapons are diet and cardio to see those lean, ripped abs.
Myth:
Machines are always a safer option than free weights and body weight exercises.
Answer:
False. Machines are good options for weight training. However, when you workout using free weights and body weight exercises, you enable your body to go through a free range of motion. There is less stress on your body and you can adjust the exercise to fit your body. Machines may let you adjust your position vertically, but they don’t take into account joint issues or other impairments.
Myth:
I’m trying to bulk up, so I can’t do cardio. I just need to lift heavy weights and eat lots of protein.
Answer:
False. Even if you’re trying to increase your lean muscle mass, you need to have a complete fitness routine. In addition to your resistance training program, you need to balance it with cardio training and a well-balanced nutritional plan.
Myth:
Cardio is better for toning up than weight training.
Answer:
False. To actually transform your body, you must train with weights. Doing cardio does burn calories and is better than doing nothing at all, but for reshaping your body nothing beats resistance training. Through weight lifting, you can significantly increase your metabolism which is the rate at which your body burns fat.
Myth:
You have to eat five times a day to lose weight.
Answer:
True. You must eat consistently throughout the day to stabilize your blood sugar and increase your metabolism. This does not mean five big meals but rather smaller portions throughout the day.
Myth:
Your muscles grow while you’re working out.
Answer:
False. Your muscles are growing when you leave the gym and on the days you don’t weight train. Lifting weights damages the muscle fibers and the goal is to have a sufficient supply of protein and nutrients to help the muscles repair stronger. So if you think those two or three hour workouts are good for you, think again!
Myth:
High reps will make me leaner.
Answer:
False. Pushing yourself with high-intensity effort gives you optimal results. If you aren’t pushing your muscles to the point of failure, with good form of course, you aren’t going to see results. Any exercise is better than no exercise, but to see quicker results and to save time, make sure you’re working hard when you step into the gym.
Myth:
Low intensity cardio is better than high intensity for fat loss.
Answer:
True. When trying to lose weight, lower intensity is better. Although you may burn more calories with high intensity, you tend to burn more muscle and sugar than fat. Low intensity burns more fat overall, while maintaining much more muscle.