If you live in Sacramento, CA, you probably heard a lot of fitness myths about women’s bodies. These myths warn women about things they shouldn’t do when trying to get fit and encourage useless or even limiting behavior that takes up precious workout time. One of the most understood is spot exercises. If you want to lose weight on your thighs, based on the myth, you do endless thigh exercises. While toning your legs will make them look better, exercising those muscles won’t burn fat solely from the area. When you lose weight, you lose it from your entire body.

Women shouldn’t exercise with weights is another myth.

You might think you’ll bulk up and look like the Incredible Hulk without the green skin, but you won’t. Women’s bodies are different from men. They have different hormones. Testosterone helps build muscle tissue. Women have some, but not nearly as much as men. Instead of building big, bulky muscles, the muscles will be toned. Lifting heavier weights helps you shed pounds faster and slims you down.

Do you think running on a treadmill is as good as running outside?

You’d be wrong. It tends to be safer, but running outside provides more benefits. When you run outside, especially on an uneven terrain like a dirt path, your body burns more calories by working your core muscles to stabilize it. Even though you can change the incline on many treadmills, it doesn’t change the surface you run on. If the day is windy, you also push against the wind resistance. Finally, you run in the sun, which is beneficial for you mentally and physically.

No pain-no gain is a myth.

Another myth that’s closely related is about pain. Do you benefit from exercise if you don’t feel pain or should you stop exercising if you do? The old no pain, no gain is a myth. While you might feel a bit uncomfortable, if you have sharp pains while exercising, quit. If you’re in considerable pain following exercise, see your healthcare professional.

• It’s a myth that walking won’t provide the same benefits as running. The difference is the intensity, so you have to walk longer. Walking is a low-impact exercise that’s easier on the joints.
• It’s a myth that using an exercise machine is better than lifting free weights. Exercise machines help men maintain proper form when strength training, but not women. They’re designed around a male body. You also burn fewer calories than you do with free weights.
• It’s a myth that you should take rest days between workout sessions. If your workout is intense, do recovery exercises the next day, like swimming. If you do strength training, give the muscles you worked a rest for 48 to 72 hours.
• Another myth is that when you quit working out, your muscles change to fat. They shrink but never turn into fat. What may happen is that you gain weight and increase the fat in the area.

For more information, contact us today at Team-ISC