Top Five Exercise Myths

For those who aren’t sports specialists or certified physical trainers, the world of exercise can be a daunting place. When you’re not in the know, there is a lot of confusing information about how to use your time to get fit faster. Here are five of our top exercise myths:

Everyone should work out in a gym.
New studies suggest that people stick with programs that appeal to them. If you don’t like the atmosphere of a gym, home-based fitness programs have become increasingly popular. For others, personalized training sessions in specialized locations are more comfortable.
Exercising is a full-time, all-or-nothing commitment.
This is simply untrue. While regular exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle, research proves that any exercise is better than none. For those that can’t (or aren’t ready) to commit to a full-time program, regular walking or as little as one hour of physical activity a week can go a long way toward your heart health.
Exercise will make me skinny!
Genetics are incredibly important when it comes to your fitness. Weight is impacted by many factors, including physical activity, diet, and your family history. While exercise can improve your fitness, exercise alone cannot guarantee that you will reach your ideal weight of respond to a training program like another individual.
Yoga has questionable health benefits.
Meditative, mind-body exercise like yoga and tai-chi have been clinically proven to offer a variety of physical benefits, including improved flexibility, better posture, and stronger core muscles.
Strength training makes you fat.
While strength training can cause individuals to “bulk up” with muscle, strength training does not make individuals fat. It helps exercisers maintain muscle mass and decrease body fat.

Need help starting an exercise program that’s tailored to your needs? Get in touch with one of our experienced personal trainers today!

Source: The Hampton Roads Health Journal, “Ten Exercise Myths” by Bridgit Kin-Charlton, MS, CPT