Common Fitness Myths
Every week we hear the same questions from clients, and most of them come straight from social media. The fitness world is loud, confusing and often misleading. These three myths are some of the biggest reasons people feel stuck.
Lifting weights makes you bulky
• Getting bulky is actually very hard
• It requires heavy training multiple days per week, a calorie surplus, high protein and good sleep
• Most people train two to three days a week while under stress and sleeping less, which does not lead to bulky muscle
• The toned look people want comes from building muscle and lowering body fat
• The women you admire with defined arms and legs are almost always lifting weights
• If someone does start feeling bulky, it is almost always from eating too many calories, not from lifting
More ab workouts will flatten your stomach
• You cannot spot reduce fat
• Crunches and planks do not directly burn belly fat
• Your core already works in almost every exercise you do
• To see abs, you need to reduce body fat through a calorie deficit
• One of the best ab moves is pushing the plate away when you have eaten enough
• High stress, poor sleep and alcohol make belly fat harder to lose
Just do more cardio to lose weight
• Fat loss happens when you burn more calories than you eat
• Cardio helps burn calories but it is not the full solution
• Strength training builds muscle which raises how many calories you burn all day
• This is why men often lose weight faster because they naturally have more muscle
• If you only have a few days per week to train, lifting gives you the best return
• Cardio is still important for heart health and conditioning
What actually works
• Strength training consistently
• Eating enough protein
• Using a calorie deficit when fat loss is the goal
• Getting quality sleep and managing stress
• Doing cardio you enjoy
Most viral fitness advice is designed for clicks, not results. Some of it has a small amount of truth, but it is rarely the full picture. If you ever see something that sounds too good to be true, send it to us. We are always here to help you cut through the noise and focus on what really works.
Listen now to “Common Misconceptions” on the Rise Personal Training Podcast