Five Exercise Myths

We all know that exercising regularly is good for us. It's good for the heart, it helps us maintain a healthy weight, and it is excellent at relieving stress. But there are many exercise myths that are presented as facts, either by those who are trying to sell us something or by those who mean well but haven't gotten their facts straight. Here are five myths about physical fitness that you might be surprised to learn about:

1: You can reduce fat in specific areas of the body by doing exercises that target those areas.

It seems to make sense, but trying to burn fat in the precise spot where you want to lose it simply doesn't work. The only way to burn fat is through aerobic exercises that get your heart pumping. And those exercises burn fat gradually and from all over the body, not just around the muscles you're using. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't work the areas where you have extra fat, though. Doing so will build muscle there, and that will give you a more toned look when the fat over the muscle is reduced.

2: You must exercise regularly in order for it to benefit you.

There's no doubt about it, getting fit takes many weeks of hard work. This leads many of us to believe that if we can't or don't have the willpower to exercise several times every week, there's no point in it. But any amount of exercise is good for you.

Even if you only take a walk every now and then, it can help lower your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. It probably won't cause you to lose weight or build muscle, but it's certainly worthwhile. And sometimes when we start off exercising every now and then, we realize that it's not so hard to make time for it and start doing so on a regular basis.

3: Strength training will make you too muscular.

Some people lift weights to develop large muscles. Others would like to do so in order to build strength and muscle tone, but they do not want to bulk up. But if you follow a sensible strength-training regimen, you won't end up looking like a bodybuilder.

Most bodybuilders use supplements and special diets in their quest to build muscle, and they spend hours each day at the gym. If you're looking to tone up and build strength, doing strength-training exercises that target a variety of muscles a couple of times a week will not create bulk.

4: Muscle turns into fat when you quit working out.

Muscle cannot magically transform into fat. So you don't have to worry about your six-pack abs turning into Jell-O if your exercise routine is disrupted. Muscles will shrink when they're not worked regularly, however, and this can create a flabby look if you discontinue your exercise routine. The missed exercise and reduced muscle will also cause reduced metabolism, making it easier for you to gain fat.

5: I'm too old to start exercising.

As we age, we often develop health problems. This leads many of us to believe that if we haven't been exercising since we were young, starting now will be bad for us. But nothing could be further from the truth. Exercise can help manage many health problems common among the middle-aged and elderly. It's always important to talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise program, but there are few people who shouldn't exercise at all.

Exercise myths can hinder our efforts to stay fit. Knowing the truth behind them makes it easier to pursue a healthy lifestyle the right way.