Workout Myths

So like I've said in some of my other posts, I've started listening to Podcasts.  One of the ones that I have been listening to is Jillian Michaels.   What I like about her is that she doesn't beat around the bush, she tells her clients straight up what they are doing right or wrong.  Her honesty and sometimes brutality is refreshing, at times...
   Anyways, the latest podcast of her's that I listened to is about Workout Myths, whether or not they are fact or fiction.  So I did some research and have compiled a list based on her podcast and WebMD.
   1. Doing crunches does NOT get rid of belly fat! - I know this might come as a shock, but it is true, you can't pick and choose where you get rid of the fat on your body.  Man if someone could come up with a way to get rid of fat in certain areas, I'd be all over that!
   2. If you're not working up a sweat you're not working out hard enough! False!  Sweat is your body's way of cooling down, you can still have a great workout without a bunch of sweat! For example: a light walk or some light weight training!
    3. Swimming is a great weight loss activity.  Also FALSE!  You might think that seems weird.  Which swimming is a total body workout and it is a great way to tone your entire body, especially your arms and legs.  But it isn't uncommon to be really hungry after swimming.  So unless you are swimming for hours and hours you probably aren't going to loose a ton of weight.
    4. "No Pain, No Gain" Myth - I have to admit that at times, I have to tell myself this.  Its the only way I can get through some brutally long runs.  But there is a HUGE difference between actual physical pain and the mental pain that can come with these long runs.  It is always better to not "work" through the pain, it isn't worth it in the long run.  You can end up doing way more damage and harm to your body that way.
    5. You can maintain a healthy weight by just calorie counting -  This is simply just not true, it will work in the beginning to help you loose weight but it will not let you maintain it.  Every diet program has to include exercise to keep that weight off and so that you do not plateau.
 These are all myths that somehow manage to get into our heads and we somehow begin to believe them.  Ultimately these workout myths become road blocks in our workout regime and diet plans.  It is imperative that we just let them go!

Lesson: "Let Go" of the myths and stereotypes, they only prevent you from achieving your goals!

Rocking out to: Who Said Whiskey by Jake Owen