The 7 Worst Diet and Fitness

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Myths serve a purpose. At least the ‘traditional’ kind do. There were lessons to be learned from the classic Greek and Roman myths, and still are, despite the fact that today we know they are nothing more than fanciful stories.

The problem with diet  and fitness myths; however, is that they get passed around so much, and even appear in print and on the internet, that people start to accept them as truth. And nothing can get in the way of your weight loss and fitness goals more

than not being able to separate fact from fiction – except maybe an angry Minotaur! So here, in no particular order, are Henry the Health Hound’s 7 Worst Diet and Fitness Myths – BUSTED!

 

1 Dieting and Working Out Turns Fat Into Muscle

Muscle and fat are two completely different kinds of tissue in your body. You can no more turn fat into muscle than you can turn straw into gold. Think of it this way: muscle is like your body’s engine and gears, and it takes energy

to run the machine. Fat can be one source of that energy so, when you work out, you build muscle and reduce fat by consuming that energy. Conversely, when you laze around and eat, your body stores fat rather than using it for energy, and your muscles degrade from not being used. But in either case one does not and cannot turn into the other.

2  All Carbs a re Bad - PERIOD

A lot of dieters, and even some trainers and nutritionists insist that ‘all carbs are bad’. The truth is, your muscles crave carbs. In fact, carbohydrates are the main source of fuel used by the body to function properly; not only physically but

mentally as well. Without carbs, you would not have the strength and stamina to work out, and even if you did, you would likely be disappointed in the results. There

are good carbs and bad carbs though, so the trick is to learn to tell the difference. Fruits, veggies and whole grains are good carbs. Anything ‘white’ as in breads, rice and pastas are bad carbs. Of course alcohol, soda, sweets and other  junk are all bad carbs; however, even certain bad carbs can be good under certain circumstances because they are absorbed by the body quickly and burned slowly. This is why marathon runners will often load up on pasta.

3 Crunches and Ab Machines Will Give You a Six-Pack

You can pretty much dismiss any ab machine or device sold on late night TV that promises to bust belly-fat and build six-pack abs, as a myth. But a lot of people also think doing this kind of workout on legitimate machines in a gym will turn that spare tyre into a washboard! This goes back to myth Number One. You can’t turn fat into

muscle. Working out will help you burn fat, but you cannot pick and choose

where it will do so. Crunches will help strengthen the muscles around your midsection and improve your posture, but you won’t be able to see your

abdominal muscles until you reduce your overall percentage of body fat.

4 Five Fruits A Day

This is one of my favourites. I constantly run into people that think eating five servings of fruit a day is an antidote to eating burgers, fries and other junk. It isn’t. Yes, it

is a good idea to eat five servings of fruit a day, but not on top of other junk! The recommendation is meant to be taken as a substitute for high fat and high starch foods.

5 Fat Free is A-OK

Speaking of high fat foods, this is another one of my favourites. People think as long as a food is ‘fat free’ it’s a diet food, and will not mak you put on weight. The food marketing industry loves to play on this and proudly emblazons bags of marshmallows and jelly beans as ‘fat free’. Yes, maybe they are, but they are loaded with sugar

– and will wreak havoc on any diet!

6 If You’re Not Sweating, You’re not Working Out

I hear gym rats say all the time, if you are not working up a sweat you are not

burning any calories. That is just not true. Sweating is the way your body cools itself, not how it burns calories.

You can be active, healthy and burn plenty of calories by doing simple exercises like walking or light weight training and never break a sweat!

 7 Woman Will Look Like Men if They Strength Train

This is a terrible myth that keeps many women from strength training.

They’re afraid that if they strength train by weightlifting, they will look like men. No way! The truth is weightlifting and strength training is the surest way for men and women to burn fat, build lean muscle, and boost resting metabolism.

 02 fitness 02 fitness 02 fitness 02 fitness 02 fitness  by Henry the Health Hound