Fitness Myths Debunked, Part 1

1. Muscle turns to fat if you don't use it.
    Muscle and fat are two completely different kinds of tissue. In the same way brain tissue is different from heart tissue, muscle cannot turn into fat! When you stop exercising, muscles get smaller and let fat tissue move into their place. Muscle mass increases your metabolic rate. Less muscle means you're going to gain fat if you're eating more and exercising less.

2. Crunches, or any other ab exercise, will get rid of a flabby belly.
    We are all different. We store extra weight differently. The belly is where most of us lose it last. You can do 1,000 sit-ups or crunches every day and you won't burn enough calories to see your "six-pack". Abdominal exercises are only a small part. To get a flat stomach and reveal your abs, you need to cut calories and add exercise that increases heart rate. Don't trust infomercials that say _______ is all you have to do. Diet is the key.

3. Weight lifting causes women to "bulk up".
    This myth makes women frightened to work with weights. Increasing lean muscle mass is essential to a woman's overall fitness. Weight management, bone density and a lean look are just a few benefits of increased muscle. Men have higher testosterone levels, which cause "bulkier" muscles. Women have low testosterone levels and have less muscle to bulk and build up.

4. Exercising on an empty stomach burns more calories.
    This is the same as someone who eats very little to lose weight. To get maximum potential out of your body while working out it must be fueled properly. The risks of not eating enough for exercising are dizziness or light-headedness. To lose weight or have a good workout you must eat properly.

5. If you don't look "fat", then you don't need to exercise.
    The truth is, it's not the fat you can see that can be harmful. It's the fat you can't see. An increased amount of fat around important areas, including vital organs, is very dangerous. Even if someone is perceived as "thin", exercise is essential for heart health. Exercise decreases the chance of heart disease, stroke and diabetes to name a few.