Fitness

5 Fitness Myths

1. Muscle turns to fat when I stop exercising
This is just not physiologically possible. When you stop training your muscles will return to their natural state. The principle of 'use it or lose it' applies when you stop exercising. Think about what happens to the leg muscles of someone who has had a limb in a cast, when removed it is evident that the muscles have wasted through lack of use.

2. Exercising when you have a cold will help sweat it out
This is not true. Exercising when you have a cold is not advisable. Your body is already working hard to fight off the infection. By exercising you can exacerbate the situation making it harder for your body to recover. By resting for just a few days first, your fitness levels will not be affected and secondly, it will allow your body the time that it requires to recover from the cold.

3. Strength training is not good for women
Not true. Firstly, women do not have the same amount of testosterone as men making your chances of increasing muscle bulk highly unlikely. Strength training has many benefits for both men and women, making everyday activities easier to complete and reducing the risk of injury whilst raising self-esteem.

4. Exercise increases your appetite
Not true. There is a considerable body of evidence that suggests that if anything regular exercise reduces your appetite (in the short term). Research tends to attribute the sensation of hunger to psychological factors. Keep in mind that a desire for food often does not signify a real need for nourishment.

5. More is better
With regards to exercise it is not true. Your body will respond in a positive manner to the stresses that you put it under by being physically active. Research has shown that over-training can have several detrimental affects on the body. People that train seven-days a week (predominantly cardio-vascular type activities) and do not allow rest periods for recovery have a greater risk of developing viral infections.
Strength training also has a down side for those who train without rest days. Muscle requires time to recover and adapt without this you are likely to be less muscularly fit than a person who trains 3-4 times a week. Rest is without doubt a major part of your fitness program.

 

 

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