I have always been into fitness and ran Cross Country and Track. Recently, I began to get into lifting and gaining muscle. On my workout journey, I have come across many workout myths that have startled me. I had sadly believed some of them to be true as well, so I am here to debunk these dangerous myths and replace them with facts that will have you surprised and relieved!
1. Carbs are the enemy
Carbohydrates are fuel for your body. They give you energy and are a necessity in a daily diet. People falsely believe that carbs make you gain weight and therefore should be avoided at all costs or eaten very sparingly. The issue with carbs is usually what they’re paired with. Think about carb-heavy foods that you like and then think about the other ingredients in them. Take a baked potato for example – the potato itself is actually very healthy and packed with vitamins. It is when the potato is paired with butter, cheese, sour cream, bacon, and other ingredients that it becomes not as healthy.
2. Skipping meals helps lose weight
Skipping meals will make you more likely to binge later when you are very hungry, leading to poor food choices and overeating. Spacing out your meals normally or having smaller meals more often is the way to go. This gives your body adequate time to digest. The only way you’ll lose weight is in a calorie deficit, but that does not mean skipping meals. Perhaps to lose weight, you’ll want to eat smaller portions, work out more, or try to eat healthier. Do whatever works for you and remember: eat things in moderation. Having ice cream one night will not ruin your weight loss journey.
3. Girls should not lift arms
It is often a well-known gender norm that women should just lift legs and avoid arms and chest because it makes them look too feminine. Looking strong does not make you masculine! Go lift upper if that is what you want! And if you’re a boy who just likes lifting lower, that is also okay! Shape and work out certain body zones to match what you want to look like.
4. Rest days are bad
Your body needs rest! Working out every day or lifting your arms the same day, for example, can be detrimental to your body. When you work out and lift, your muscles get little tears, so your body needs adequate time and food to recover. For an effective workout plan that gives your body time to rest, try to incorporate a day to two of rest per week, and maybe alternate upper and lower day to give certain muscle areas time to recover.