8 Fitness Myths That Are Harmful to Your Health

When it comes to fitness, everyone has something to say. The mere mention of your plans to join the gym or get fit will turn people into experts, spouting the best tips they have for you. But the real question is whether those statements are facts or myths? And should you believe them? Fret not; we have a list of the top 8 fitness myths that may be doing harm to your health, rather than good. Read on to find out how many you are believing or following.

1. You can burn off last night’s junk food in the gym
   Did you eat a lot of unhealthy food yesterday? Do you think you can burn it away with a good workout? It might shock you, but you are mistaken. Each food is different and will stay in your body for varying times. It is the type of food that decides if your hormones will either store the fat or burn it, build the muscles or break it down, boost metabolism or slow it down. The burger you had had yesterday might stay with you for more days than you can imagine, so choose your diet carefully.
2. You don’t need rest days
   After a tiring day, you need sleep to rest and rejuvenate. Similarly, your muscles also need to recover after a rigorous workout schedule. You need to include rest days in-between your gym days to give sufficient time for the muscles to combat fatigue, mood swings, and hormonal changes. Besides that, altering between workout and rest periods can reduce the chances of injuries, strains, and pain. So, if anyone has been telling you to hit the gym everyday, pay no heed to them. Working out 3 times a week is sufficient, but you can put in an extra day if you do strenuous workouts.
3. Morning workouts are ideal
   It is a common myth that working out in the morning is ideal, as it can give a boost to your metabolism. The ideal time for workout majorly depends upon when your body is at its prime for physical activity. While it may be morning for some, others might be more energetic during the afternoons. But, if you feel you are more active for a workout during the morning, make sure you don’t lose any sleep the night before. It may adversely impact your metabolism and affect your results.
4. Your diet must contain more protein
   While protein is the most vital part of an athlete’s diet, overdoing it can take you down the wrong path. Ideally, you must consume 1g of protein per 454g of your body weight every day. So, if you weigh 91kg, for instance, you can include 200g proteins in your daily diet.
   If you are consuming more protein than this, it can contribute to weight gain and heart trouble. The risk is higher if your proteins come from meat as animal proteins can also be high in saturated fat. Keep your diet in check and only have a regulated amount of protein and other nutrients like carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
5. Exercise turns fat into muscles
   The biggest myth that people believe about fitness is that exercising will turn their fat into muscles. Well, until magic is involved, the above statement cannot happen. If we go into physiology, the basic tissues of fat and muscles are different.
   The adipose tissue, or the fatty tissue, is present beneath the skin, in between the muscles and organs like the heart. But, muscles are present in all parts of your body. Weight training can only help you build muscles, but you will need a healthy diet to get rid of the fat.
6. No pain, no gain
   There is a thin line between soreness after exercise and pain, and most people don’t realize the difference. Adding pressure to certain muscles while exercising can often lead to soreness. There is inflammation and muscle tearing that can lead to Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). If you still have excessive soreness, it is wise to give those muscles a rest and work on another muscle category.
   But, in the case of pain, it is best not to continue with the workout, and if the pain persists, you must see your doctor. While people are glorifying their ‘no pain, no gain’ philosophy, it might lead to serious injuries.
7. Sports drinks can rehydrate you more
   Hitting the gym and then sweating it out for hours can often lead to dehydration. You will lose most of the water in your body, so it’s essential to stay hydrated. A majority of people suggest you rely on sports drinks, but in reality, they only contain plenty of sugar and water.
   Experts believe that solely relying on plain old water can do more good for you than sports drinks. If you feel tired and low on energy, you can stock up on protein bars instead of such drinks.

Final Thoughts

More and more people are getting into the fitness arena today. With plenty of minds, there can be an abundance of information as well. It can easily get you into a dilemma, struggling to think about what is a myth and what isn’t. These above points can help you differentiate between reality and myths. When it comes to fitness, make sure you find the right logic behind information and only then follow it.

Mahar Deepa

Deepa Mahar is an independent blogger and admin of DeepAdvices who is exploring the beauty of the blog writing from a variety of subjects and books to health, science and others. She believes the blog would be helpful to the reader in the context of knowledge. She is post-graduated with a degree of Biotechnology.