There are a lot of myths about exercise and losing weight out there. The key truth about permanent weight loss and healthy weight management is making profound and lasting dietary and lifestyle habit changes.
These lifestyle changes are essential for weight loss, and are the answer to maintaining your target weight on a permanent basis.
It’s important that you arm yourself with the knowledge you need to succeed in losing weight and keeping it off. To get the results you want from your weight loss journey, here are 12 facts and myths about exercise and losing weight you should know.
Free Report: 9 Strength Training Myths For WomenCommons Myths About Exercise And Losing Weight
Myth 1: You can only lose weight if you sweat during exercise
Fact: That would explain why professional swimmers are so fat (joke). Exercise burns calories. It’s as simple as that. Although there are certain exercises, which are better for different areas of the body, sweating is simply the body’s acclamatory adjustment to heat. Besides, if that were the case, we would all just have a sauna instead.
Myth 2: Constant exercise will ensure you do not gain weight
Fact: While regular exercise is essential for good health and weight loss, it doesn’t necessarily mean those scales will reduce their reading. This is because it depends on what kind of exercise you are doing. Muscle weighs more than fat so if you’re building muscle you might not weigh any less, but you will be healthier.
Myth 3: Exercise can only be done in a gym
Fact: A gym is just one of many places that you can exercise. There are countless activities that raise your heart rate that can be done at home and in the great outdoors, including sports, hiking, walking, cycling, dancing and swimming.
Myth 4: You can’t lose weight after a certain age
Fact: There is a stereotype that it is harder to lose weight after a certain age. While it’s true that our bodies change as we age and might require different kinds of exercise, and dietary changes, it’s still possible to lose weight and be healthy at any age.
Myth 5: You can’t lose weight without exercise
Fact: This isn’t true. Weight loss occurs when there is a calorie deficit, period. However, if you’re not active you’ll get to eat much less calories than those who are. Additionally, exercise has many other benefits that support weight loss efforts and general health. You can lose weight faster and prevent chronic disease by engaging in activities that elevate your heart rate for at least 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
Myth 6: Any exercise is good for weight loss
Fact: Only in conjunction with a suitable diet will exercise be good for weight loss. You can spend 3 hours a day working out, but if you also eat burgers, and chili fries all day, you’ll not likely see the results you crave.
Myth 7: You need to do at least 60 minutes of cardio to see results
Fact: Any cardio will help you to achieve results. It’s impossible to give a minimum amount of time for your cardio workouts. If you’re new to exercise then it is best to start small and work up to the more difficult cardio sessions.
Myth 8: We only burn calories when we are active
Fact: We’re actually burning calories all the time, even when we’re asleep. However, we often consume many more than is needed for these basic bodily functions so we need to work off any extra calories.
Myth 9: We can’t change our metabolic rates through exercise
Fact: There are many different way that we can enhance our metabolic rates, through both diet and exercise. Exercises that can help to increase your metabolism include high intensity interval training and weight exercises that build lean muscle tone, where calories are burned.
Myth 10: We can choose which part of our body we lose weight from
Fact: When we lose weight, we generally tend to lose it from all over our body, rather than one specific area. Strength training can develop muscle tone in the abs, arms and legs, but you can never choose in which specific area of the body fat will be burned.
Myth 11: It doesn’t matter what time of day you exercise
Fact: Exercise is more effective first thing in the morning. There are several reasons for this, such as hormone levels being higher and you’re less fatigued so more likely to have an effective workout. However, if you can only exercise later in the day, don’t let it stop you. All exercise is good!
Myth 12 : High intensity exercise is less effective than other forms of exercise as it doesn’t last as long
Fact: High-intensity exercise is actually much more effective at burning calories than traditional cardio, as it requires short bursts of high amounts of energy. A 15-minute session of HIIT is more effective than an hour of cardio. Moreover, HIIT, while more taxing and intense than cardio, is also more likely to be maintained in the long run, as it requires a much smaller time commitment.
Myths About Exercise And Losing Weight: Women Shouldn’t Lift Weights
One of the biggest weight loss myths about exercise and losing weight is that women shouldn’t lift weights as part of their weight loss plan. They think it will make them bulky. That’s a myth. It will not happen. Women can, and should, lift weights. It helps you lose weight, builds strength, improves sleep, sex, and so much more. Lifting weights also increases the number of calories you burn every hour of every day. To get the real truth, download my free report 9 Strength Training Myths For Women.
