Fitness Facts & Myths

1. Stretching before you exercise - It's actually best to stretch AFTER you exercise when you're muscles are warm. You can still warm up before your fitness routine, but only do your 5-7 minutes of deep stretching after your workout.
2. No pain, no gain - Never exercise through pain unless you have a known injury, and it is part of a supervised rehabilitation program. In most cases, pain is a warning of an injury.
3. Running on a treadmill is safer than running outdoors - Running incorrectly on a treadmill can be just as stressful on your joints as running outside.
4. Crunches get rid of belly fat - Abdominal crunches alone won’t cut it if you’re trying to lose belly fat. Losing weight requires taking in fewer calories as well as burning more calories. One pound of belly fat equals about 3,500 calories.
5. Aerobic exercise boosts your metabolism - True! The benefits of a regular aerobic exercise program for about 30 minutes four or five times per week includes long-lasting benefits for your metabolism and will help you maintain a healthy weight.
6. Lifting weights will make you "bulky" - Lifting weights could make you bulky if that's the look you’re going for, but you need to specifically train for that goal. Limited weight training a few times a week will increase bone strength and muscle mass without obvious bulk .
7. If you're not sweating, you're not working - That’s a myth. How much you sweat depends on many factors, including your basic metabolism, how much you weigh, and where you're exercising.
8. Too old to exercise - That is a big myth! You are never too old to benefit from exercise. Elderly people can reduce their risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and mental decline with prescribed exercise.
9. More is always better - For most people, 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five days per week can help maintain good health, improve fitness and energy levels, and can help you drop a few pounds (with the exception of athletes).