Each year millions of people vow to change their lives with exercise.  Most of them will quit before anything has a chance to work.  In spite of commercials admitting that success is rare, (“Results are not typical. Your actual results may vary.”) consumers continue to spend their heard-earned dollars on diet and fitness products that do not deliver.  Some have wrongly concluded that exercise doesn’t work.  But the real problem is that most diet and fitness products don’t work as advertised. With the proper fitness education, realistic goals and a sound fitness program, success is very attainable.  This is part 1 of a 3 part series to help you break the cycle of fitness failure.  It begins with rethinking what you know about exercise.

POPULAR FITNESS MYTHS

The  Fat Burning Myth:

You can program your body, by exercise selection, to target fat cells for weight loss.

The Truth:

You don’t have to burn fat to lose fat.  Fat loss occurs when you consistently burn more calories than you take in.  There are no secret formulas or  shortcuts.

The Spot Reduction Myth:

The body part highlighted on your cardio machine indicates fat loss from that area.

The Truth:

Those images point to muscle groups activated during the activity.  Areas of fat loss are based on genetics.

The Muscle Toning, Firming, Tightening Myth:

Exercise can make your muscles smaller, tighter or firmer.

The Truth:

Muscles grow bigger and stronger with exercise.  Your overall body size may decrease if enough fat loss occurs.

The Body Sculpting & Shaping Myth:

You only need to exercise the body parts you want to change.

The Truth:

Changing the shape of your body requires aerobic exercise to burn calories and strength training for overall muscle development. (Postural exercises targeting small muscle groups may also help bring the body into balance.)

The Effortless Exercise Myth:

Some exercises are easier than others regardless of your fitness level.

The Truth:

Effort is a sign of exertion from overload, which is necessary to stimulate change.

The Rapid Weight Loss Myth:

It’s possible to lose a significant amount of body fat in a short period of time.

The Truth:

The faster you lose weight, the less likely you are to lose body fat and keep it off.

The Dramatic Results Myth:

With the right program you will change your body in a matter of days or weeks.

The Truth:

Fitness is a long-term commitment and once you get results you have to maintain them.  The habits become easier to stick with, but fitness is (unfortunately) reversible.

The Linear Weight Loss Myth:

If you do the math you will lose weight over time as planned.

The Truth:

Uneven behavior change, setbacks, set points, individual differences and stress are all good reasons for unpredictable weight loss results.  Most people don’t lose weight according to simple formulas.

The Perfect Body Myth:

There is an ideal body type that anyone can achieve.

The Truth:

Your body is most likely a perfect reflection of your genetics, your environment and the choices you make about food and exercise.

Replacing misinformation and myths with the facts of fitness is the first step towards creating a successful fitness program.  Email trainer@livebetterfitness.com for specific answers to your fitness questions.