Common Myths About Exercise

     Countless things have been written about exercise by many people. Much of it is good, a lot of it not-so-good. But what a lot of them have in common are certain widespread misconceptions about exercise. Look at the list that follows, and see how many of these things have been related to you by so called "experts."

Body Mass Index (BMI) is the Top Way To Calculate Fitness

BMI is a measurement that compares height and weight to establish ideal weight. It has been used by pros for many years, and can be a decent method in certain instances. But, BMI does not take muscle mass into consideration. A very muscled man can appear obese on the BMI scale due to the detail than muscle is a good deal denser than fat, taking up less space but weighing more.
For a more precise evaluation of your general fitness, body fat percentage is a much better indicator. It will be correct regardless of what body type you are. Men should have a 9-19% normal BFP, women between 14 and 25 percent. Younger people should be on the lower ends of these numbers; it will typically go up as we age.

You Ought to Exercise on an Empty Stomach

If you want your blood sugar to dive, causing dizziness, weakness, and nausea, then feel free to take this guidance. This common myth is based on the assumption that if you work out on an empty stomach, you will without delay be burning fat stores. This is just not true. Your body needs carbohydrates to metabolize stored fat, and if your stomach is empty, there's not anything to use.
The best approach is to have a small meal 1-2 hours prior to exercising. It should include lean protein and carbs. A good example would be a tuna sandwich on whole wheat bread. This will give you the fuel that you want for an effective workout.

Exercise is More Important than Diet

Diet is no less as vital as exercise in maintaining a healthy weight. Lots of "experts" would have you accept as true that it is okay to eat however, whenever you feel like, as long as you workout enough to offset the calories that you consume. But this is actually bad advice.
Learn to manage portion size, and spread calories throughout the day. Have 5-6 small meals per day, and by no means go more than 3 hours without eating. This tactic will eradicate hunger and cravings, and leave you energized and equipped for exercise anytime.

Wrist and Ankle Weights Will Give You a Better Workout

On the surface, you would think this is correct. Adding a little weight when you're walking or jogging will make your body work harder, right? Really, you will simply wear yourself out faster, losing the effectiveness of a lengthy cardio session. You will gain more from going a longer distance, at a faster speed.
In terms of strength training, these weights are too light to be of any help. You are better off using sufficient weight in your sets to tire your muscles after 8-12 reps. This will help build muscle mass and give your metabolism a boost.

Always Stretch out Before Exercising

Runners may well want to stretch a little before they start, but for all practical purposes, this statement is backwards. You should always stretch following exercising. Stretching makes muscle fiber longer, making it more prone to stress injuries. You could possibly hurt yourself by stretching ahead of a strength training workout.
On the other hand, by stretching after you work out, you are promoting circulation and warding off stiffness. You can find many helpful stretching exercise resources on the internet that will target the specific muscle groups that you work out.

As you can see, not everything we hear or read regarding exercise is the gospel. Many "experts" have been circulating misinformation on these items for years. Always use appropriate thoroughness when beginning an exercise program, do your research, and keep the above advice in mind to aid you along the way.

1. Prev:Tava Tea For Effective Weight Loss
2. Next:How Good is Protein For Your Weight Loss?