The Truth about Fitness Myths

Many people want to get and keep fit. Their intention is good, but the methods they use sometimes are not.   Over the years, directions like “eat less to lose weight” have been passed around as good advice. But in fact, such fitness methods are unhealthy — and even dangerous.   Unfortunately, many people want to lose weight so badly that they will believe any advice — good or bad. Here are five of the most common myths about getting and keeping fit.

1. “If I just eat less, I will lose weight.”   Many people only focus on the amount of food they take in each day.   They don’t pay attention to what they’re eating. So they may be eating less, but they’re not eating healthily.  Be sure to eat a good balance of different foods, including vegetables, fruits, meat, milk, and bread or rice.    What you eat is just as important as how much you eat.

2. “Running is all the exercise I need to lose weight.” You need aerobic exercise to burn off your extra fat. But that alone doesn’t help you get and keep fit. You must also lift weights to build muscles. You need both to get the most effective results.

3. “If I build muscles, I will gain weight.” This is true. Muscle is denser than fat, so the same amount weighs more. But muscle also takes up less space. When you replace fat with muscle, you will look thinner and better.

4. “The miracle diets on TV will help me lose weight.”   These ads promise a miracle solution for losing weight, but usually the products don’t live up to their promises and can even be dangerous. Don’t waste your money on them.

 5. “Some fancy exercise machine burns more calories than any other exercise.” People are often confused about the magical effects of these exercise machines. Don’t be fooled by this stuff. Fat burning is directly related to the amount of effort an activity requires. In general,   the more difficult it feels, the more calories you burn. No matter how fancy or expensive the equipment is, the harder you work the better it is for your body shaping.

What is the best way to get and keep fit? Eat healthily and have a good balance of aerobic and muscle building exercises.  Make your healthy lifestyle last for a whole lifetime, not just for a short while.