10 Misconceptions About Fitness And The Real Truths Behind Them

“True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are ever united.” – Wilhelm von Humboldt

2015 is coming to an end, and believe me, the best resolution you can take is staying fit and eating healthy. I know a lot of people who workout and follow a diet without even realizing that what they are doing can possibly harm their body.

So, here are some common fitness misconceptions cleared out for you, so that you can take care of you body better.

1. Myth: I have to follow an exclusive protein diet for a ripped body

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Truth is:

If you know someone who has been eating chicken, egg whites, steak, and proteins ONLY; just smack them across the face. Although, protein is important to gain muscle mass and increase metabolism rate, other nutrients like carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals are extremely important to maintain various bodily functions.

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2. Myth: Fats will make me fat

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Truth is:

Your body needs fats as much as it needs water. They are important for carrying out various body processes and for regulating our hormones. All kinds of fats are good for you, if taken in proper proportion (except saturated & trans fats).

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3. Myth: It’ll harm me if I overtrain

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Truth is:

You won’t get the ass you want by sitting on it. Unless and until you are sleeping, eating and resting properly, working out an hour a day is NOT over training. Don’t be afraid to push yourself off the limits. If you want a great body, you’ll have to earn it.

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4. Myth: Quantity of calories matters more than quality

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Truth is:

If you think that you can eat those calories in any form and it won’t matter, then you are wrong. Quality is as important as quantity when it comes to calories. So, a big bowl of strawberries and a kachori might have the same amount of calories, but their effect on your body will be vastly different.

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5. Myth: My muscles will grow if I lift heavy

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Truth is:

If you are a gym buff and think that your muscles will grow if you lift heavy, then you are under a very wrong impression. Your muscle growth doesn’t just depend on the weight, but on the tension, number of repetition, resting period and much more.

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6. Myth: I’ll gain weight suddenly if I stop working out

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Truth is:

A halt in the workout has nothing to do with muscle tissues converting into fat. If you continue your healthy diet, the difference won’t be tremendous. The reason why people who used to be muscular become fat is that the metabolism and hormone rate drops with old age.

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7. Myth: Cardio during fasts burns more fats

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Truth is:

Nope, it doesn’t. Instead, consuming calories right before the workout has a greater thermogenic effect. So, break your fast with some light snack before you start exercising.

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8. Myth: I can start running whenever I want

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Truth is:

No, you can’t. To start running, you need to be in the running shape first. If you are out of shape and overweight and try to run, you may injure yourself. So, start with walking.

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9. Myth: Stretching before the exercise is good for me

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Truth is:

Contrary to the popular myth, you should not static stretch before exercise. That can put your muscles to sleep. Hence, stretch out after the workout. It’s a good recovery after all the firing action.

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10. Myth: I don’t need to eat healthy. I’m exercising a lot

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Truth is:

Ha ha, that’s not happening. You cannot out exercise a crappy diet. About 80% of how you look depends on what you are eating. So, you are fooling yourself when you say that you don’t need to eat healthy. Those abs are made in the kitchen, not in the gym.

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11. So break all these myths, and track every part of your day using Fitbit & stay fit.

Last-point

Fitbit tracks every part of your day—including activity, exercise, food, weight, and sleep—to help you find your fit, stay motivated, and see how small steps make a big impact.

Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live in. 🙂

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This story is brought to you in association with Fitbit.

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