I have received a lot of questions about my blogs lately so I figured let’s answer as many questions as we can in one blog that busts all these terrible exercise myths.
If I stop working out will my muscles turn to fat?
Muscle and fat are completely different tissues that are not interchangeable. Instead, there are two key reasons why people perceive that muscle turns to fat when they stop exercising.
Muscle goes from firm to floppy when it’s not used. It also decreases in size, hence the saying, use it or lose it.
Many people stop exercising but don’t adjust how much food they eat. The reality is, when you exercise less, you have to eat less.
The nice part is that it takes a LONG time of under eating to atrophy your muscles. Taking a week or even a couple months off won’t cause you to go from greek goddess to precious overnight.
Will training my core give me a flat stomach?
This one is simple to answer. NO. Although training your core can be very beneficial what people need to understand is flat stomachs are made in the kitchen. When you’re in the gym focus on big heavy compound movements like squats, deadlifts, lunges, and loaded carries. Get yourself out of breath by performing high-intensity cardio 2-3x per week for about 10 minutes each time and eat a well-balanced diet. Stay consistent and watch your tummy shrink.
Won’t lifting weights make me bulky?
This is one I hear all the time. Believe it or not, it’s not just woman who ask this one. Although lifting weights will help you put on muscle the only way to get “bulky” is by eating more food than you burn consistently for months on end. If all you had to do was lift weights to get bulky you’d see a gym full of 16-year-olds who look like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
How do I target one specific area (thighs, chest, stomach)?
Unfortunately, the body just doesn’t work like this. The whole spot training theory just isn’t true. The body systematically loses weight, usually, the last place you put it on is the first place it comes off, and the first place you put it on is the last place it comes off. Again focus on training your body as a whole unit, eat clean over a long period of time and soon enough those problem areas won’t be problems anymore.
Shouldn’t I be sore after I work out?
Although slight discomfort may come from exercise you shouldn’t be so sore you can’t get out of bed. If you train so hard that you limit what you can do throughout the rest of the week what’s the point? Exercise is all about consistency, your better off training 5x per week than to have 1 savage workout that knocks you out of the gym for 3 days.
There you have it. 5 common exercise busted. Focus on doing the right things over a long period of time and you won’t have to worry about these exercise myths anymore.
If you have any other questions don’t hesitate to reach out via Facebook or Instagram
looking to get ready for summer? Check out Club Sweats 28 day Summer Shred Down Challenge starting May 29th
