5 Exercise Myths You Thought Were True

We've gathered some exercise myths that most people believe are true. It's time to let go of these misconceptions to help aid you on your fitness journey!

1. Myth: No pain, no gain.

It's true that you should push yourself, but it doesn't mean you should do it to the point where everything aches! Dr. Parr explains that "The idea that exercise should hurt is simply wrong—muscle pain during or following exercise usually suggests an injury. However, some muscle soreness is unavoidable, especially if you are new to exercise." (via lifehacker.com)

2. Myth: Doing crunches will get rid of belly fat.

Experts say that crunches won't help you lose belly fat. Phil Tyne, director of the fitness center at the Baylor Tom Landry Health & Wellness Center in Dallas says that "You can’t pick and choose areas where you'd like to burn fat." So any other exercise that says would help you lose fat in certain areas is a lie. (via webmd.com)

3. Myth: Swimming is a great weight loss activity.

Before investing in pool memberships, you should first know that swimming is great for increasing lung capacity and toning muscles, but will not help you burn fat unless you swim for hours a day. Because water is supporting your body, it's hard to make any progress if your goal is to lose those extra pounds. Swimming can also make you feel exhausted, making you want to eat more than usual. (via webmd.com)

4. Myth: More gym time is better.

Having rest days is actually really crucial to help you with your fitness journey. Celebrity trainer Ashley Borden says that "Your body needs to recover, especially after a tough session" Doing your workouts every day could lead to injury or you could overstrain yourself.  (via health.com)

5. Myth: Strength training will make you bulky.

It's actually hard for women to have bulky muscles from a normal strength training routine. Strength training can actually make you leaner, but you have to always keep in mind your diet also. The 30-Second Body author, Adam Rosante also said that "the more lean muscles you have, the more calories your body will burn fat at rest." (via self.com)

Know more exercise myths? Share it with us in the comments!